France’s Benzema out for World Cup
One month after he lifted the Ballon d’Or in triumph to crown his remarkable rise, Karim Benzema’s dream of winning the World Cup is over before he has even played a game in Qatar.
Defending champion France’s World Cup hopes took a huge blow with the news that its star striker Benzema is out of the tournament after tearing a muscle in his left thigh during training Saturday.
“Karim Benzema is out of the World Cup,” the French soccer federation, or FFF, said. “After hurting the quadriceps on his left thigh, the Real Madrid striker is forced to give up on taking part in the World Cup.”
Benzema was participating in his first full training session with Les Bleus when he had to come off after feeling some pain in his left thigh, the FFF said.
“He went for an MRI scan in a hospital [clinic] in Doha, which unfortunately confirmed a tear,” the FFF said, adding that he will need three weeks to recover.
Benzema addressed his fans after the news emerged.
“I’ve never given up in my life but tonight I have to think of the team, as I have always done,” Benzema posted on his Instagram account.
Nets’ Irving may be back Sunday
Kyrie Ir ving could return from his suspension and play for the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday after apologizing for hurting the Jewish community when he posted a link to a film with antisemitic material.
The Nets listed Irving as questionable for the game against Memphis. He has missed the last eight games.
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has a sprained left ankle that will keep him out at least a week . ... Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey will miss at least two weeks after breaking his left foot Friday night . ... Cleveland forward Kevin Love could miss some games after sustaining a fracture of his right thumb.
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded infielder Kevin Newman to Cincinnati for relief pitcher Dauri Moreta.
The University at Buffalo’s football game against Akron was postponed indefinitely because of a lakeeffect snowstorm hitting the western New York region.
World Cup champion champion Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States claimed the season-opening women’s World Cup race for her 48th slalom victory.
Novak Djokovic kept his bid for a record-equaling sixth ATP Finals title alive by beating Taylor Fritz of Palos Verdes to reach the final in Turin, Italy.
Rory McIlroy is wellplaced for another Race to Dubai title after his sevenunder 65 left him three shots off the lead heading into the final round at the seasonending DP World Tour Championship . ... Patrick Rodgers finished with a sixunder 64, giving him a share of the lead with Ben Martin in the RSM Classic in St. Simons Island, Ga . ... Leona Maguire of Ireland shot a nine-under 63 to catch Lydia Ko for the lead in the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla.
Stanford’s Charles Hicks became the NCAA Division I men’s cross-country champion, besting former Newbury Park standout Nico Young of Northern Arizona, and North Carolina State’s Katelyn Tuohy won the women’s side.