Karim Benzema is ruled out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after suffering a muscle tear in his left thigh.
The 34-year-old Ballon d’Or winner came to the tournament after suffering knee and hamstring injuries and had been training away from the French team.
Saturday was Benzema’s first full training session and he was forced to pull out early after feeling pain in his left thigh, with the French Football Federation later confirming the striker had “a tear” that would keep him out of the tournament.
Benzema wrote in Instagram: “In my life I have never given up but tonight I have to think about the team, as I always have, so reason tells me to give my place to someone who can help our group to have a good World Cup.
“Thank you for all your messages of support.”
Asked on Sunday by a French newspaper telescopic foot whether he would replace Benzema in his team, manager Didier Deschamps said “No.”
“This is a quality group,” he added. “In everything they do, both on and off the field, they are united. I have confidence in them.”
It means that Deschamps will have a 25-man squad for the World Cup.
Since winning the Ballon d’Or last month, Benzema has played less than 30 minutes for Madrid after coming off the bench in a Champions League game against Celtic.
Benzema was France’s top scorer at the 2014 World Cup but did not feature in France’s victorious 2018 World Cup campaign. France coach Deschamps called him up for last year’s European Championship, where he was the top scorer in France with four goals.
Forward Christopher Nkunku was injured minutes before the end of the team’s previous training session on Tuesday night and has since been replaced in the squad by Randal Kolo Muani.
Deschamps already misses midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, who helped France win the World Cup four years ago.
Paul Pogba (centre) misses the World Cup
Pogba injured his knee in pre-season and underwent surgery in September to repair a damaged meniscus. The 29-year-old resumed training before his agent confirmed the midfielder would not play for Juventus or France again ahead of the World Cup.
Chelsea midfielder Kante has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation with a hamstring injury that has restricted him to two league appearances this season. He will be out for four months after undergoing surgery.
Deschamps also has an anxious wait to see if his best central defender Raphael Varane is fit to face Australia, exactly one month since he limped off to Manchester United with a hamstring injury.
Fellow World Cup winner and central defender Presnel Kimpembe withdrew from the France squad on Monday after failing to fully recover from a six-week layoff following a hamstring injury.
Olivier Giroud is expected to lead the line for France
Even without Benzema, France still have a strong attack to face Australia. They are likely to start with Olivier Giroud at center forward, flanked by 2018 World Cup star Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele or veteran Antoine Griezmann.
Giroud has scored 49 goals for France, Griezmann has 42 and Mbappe, 23, already has 28. Dembele has been in fine form for Spanish league leaders Barcelona this season.
Les Bleus will play Denmark four days later and before facing Tunisia on November 30.
Morrison: Injury is a blow but could galvanize France
Clinton Morrison, former Republic of Ireland international:
“You look at the players missing from midfield, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, that’s the heartbeat of their midfield. Nkunku gets injured when he gets to the World Cup, and now Benzema.”
“Sometimes, though, he can boost a team. A lot of people will write off France now, saying they’re missing four or five star players, but sometimes he can boost the rest of the team. They still have Mbappe, one of the best players. of world football. But losing Karim Benzema is a tremendous blow. For me, he was right up there with Harry Kane to be the top scorer in the World Cup.”
“Moving forward, the likes of Griezmann, Mbappe and even Olivier Giroud, he’s in good form for AC Milan but it depends who else they call. France still has a chance, maybe not as big as a month ago.” but they still have a good chance.”
Evra: France’s biggest enemy is France
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While at the Abu Dhabi GP on Sunday, former Manchester United captain Patrice Evra shared his thoughts on the World Cup, including what he thinks of Gareth Southgate and England.
Former Manchester United and France left-back Patrice Evra on Sky Sports News:
“It’s going to be difficult. We’re missing a lot of experienced players. I spoke to Karim and he told me he wouldn’t make it. Kante was a player who ran everywhere for us.”
“There are a lot of concerns, but we are still France, we still have an incredible team. I hope Mbappé shines in the World Cup. France’s biggest enemy is France because we have the biggest team.”
“I think Brazil is going to do well, Argentina, all the South American teams are going to do very well, especially in the heat.
“It’s going to be a good World Cup because all the players are ready. Everyone will give 100 percent from the group stage.”
world raffle 2022
- Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
- B Group: England, Iran, United States, Wales
- Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
- Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
- Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
- Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
- Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
- Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
