France’s Karim Benzema takes part in a training session in Doha, Qatar on November 19, 2022. The striker is reportedly battling an injury | Photo Credit: AP
Striker Karim Benzema was forced to pull out of France’s training session with an injury on Saturday in what could be a major blow for the defending champions three days before their World Cup opener, L’Equipe reported.
The Ballon d’Or winner, who has been struggling with a muscle problem, and central defender Raphael Varane, who is recovering from a knee issue, trained with the team on Saturday for the first time since their arrival in Qatar .
L’Equipe said Benzema missed the entire session after sustaining an injury, the nature and severity of which is still unknown.
France, who are without influential midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante for the tournament due to injury, open their campaign against Australia in a Group D match on Tuesday.
