The news that star striker Karim Benzema’s injury can’t play in the World Cup is a huge setback for France. On Saturday, he tore a muscle in his left thigh while training.
The French football federation (FFF) said on Sunday, “Karim Benzema is out of the World Cup.”
“The Real Madrid striker can’t play in the World Cup because he hurt the quadriceps in his left thigh.”
The FFF said that Benzema had to leave his first full training session with Les Bleus because he was having some pain in his left thigh.
“He went to an MRI scan at a hospital in Doha, which unfortunately showed a tear,” the FFF said, adding that he will need three weeks to heal.
Didier Deschamps, the coach of France, said, “I feel very bad for Karim, who had made winning the World Cup a major goal.”
“Even though this is another setback for the French team, I have full faith in my team. Deschamps said in a statement, “We will do everything we can to meet the huge challenge we face.”
Since October, the striker for Real Madrid has been having trouble with his thigh. But he had a great year with Real Madrid last year. He scored 44 goals in 46 games across all competitions and helped them win both the LaLiga and the Champions League.
“I’ve never given up in my life, but tonight, as I’ve always done, I have to think of the team,” Benzema wrote in an Instagram post.
“So reason tells me to give my place to someone who can help our squad have a great World Cup. Thank you for all your kind words.”
L’Equipe reported that Benzema, this year’s winner of the Ballon d’Or, “felt a sharp muscle pain” in his left thigh in training.
Saturday was the first time Benzema had taken part in full training since Deschamps’s squad met up at their French headquarters of Clairefontaine last Monday.
Under FIFA rules, Deschamps can call up a replacement for an injured player until Monday, on the eve of their first game against Australia.
Doubts over Benzema’s fitness were a significant headache for Deschamps, already deprived of the services of midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, number two goalkeeper Mike Maignan, defender Presnel Kimpembe and forward Christopher Nkunku.
Benzema had not played an entire match since October 19.
He and Raphael Varane trained apart from the rest of the squad on Thursday during a session open to the media at the home stadium of Qatari champions Al Sadd.
Manchester United center-back Varane has not played a game since coming off in tears against Chelsea on October 22. Karim Benzema’s injury news is very shocking for all.
