END OF THE ROAD
Holders France rocked as thigh injury rules Ballon d’or winner Karim Benzema out of World Cup
Doha, Qatar - France’s hopes of successfully defending the World Cup were dealt a huge blow late on Saturday as Ballon d’or winner Karim Benzema was ruled out of the tournament in Qatar with an injured left thigh.
The 34-year-old Real Madrid striker had been struggling with the injury for some time and had played less than half an hour of football in his club’s last six games before the World Cup.
On Saturday, he took part in full training for the first time since the World Cup holders gathered last week ahead of the tournament.
He was forced to withdraw from the session at the home stadium of Qatari champions Al Sadd with the injury and was taken for tests.
The French Football Federation (FFF) later said in a statement that the injury “will require a recovery period of three weeks”, ruling out any
prospect of him being fully fit for the tournament which finishes on December 18.
“I am extremely sad for Karim, for whom this World Cup was a major objective,” France coach Didier Deschamps was quoted as saying in the FFF statement. Deschamps said he would not ask
for a replacement for Benzema even though FIFA’S rules give him until Monday to do so.
“Despite this new blow for the France team I have full faith in my squad. We will do all we can to rise to the huge challenge that awaits us.”
Deschamps brushed away questions about the French team's handling of Benzema who had been nursing an injury for the past month.
“I know that you're looking for controversy,” he said. “But everything is under control, (the inury) was not even caused by him accelerating
or shooting.”
The 36-year-old Olivier Giroud is set to benefit from Benzema’s absence by coming into the
France attack alongside Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.
France begin their defence of the trophy on Tuesday, when they take on Australia in Al Wakrah. They will also play Denmark and Tunisia in Group D as they aim to become the first team
since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup.
Pogba, Kante already out
Benzema’s injury is a major blow for Deschamps, whose preparations for the tournament had already been hampered by fitness problems.
France have come to Qatar without the key duo of Paul Pogba and N’golo Kante, their starting midfield pairing from the successful 2018
World Cup campaign, who were both ruled out due to injury before Deschamps named his squad.
Back-up goalkeeper Mike Maignan and centre-back Presnel Kimpembe also withdrew before
RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku had to pull out after suffering a knee injury in France’s final training session before departing for Qatar.
Nkunku was replaced in the squad by Eintracht Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani.
But Deschamps said that centre-back Raphael Varane would be available for the opening game against Australia on Tuesday.
The Manchester United defender has been sidelined with injury since October 22 but trained with the team for the first time on Saturday.
Benzema, who will turn 35 next month, had targeted the World Cup to cap off a remarkable career renaissance. He won the Ballon d’or after
scoring 44 goals in 46 games for Real Madrid last season as the Spanish club won the Champions League and La Liga.