France’s Karim Benzema during a training session in Doha, Qatar on November 19, 2022. The striker will miss the 2022 World Cup with a thigh tear | Photo Credit: Christophe Ena
Defending champion France’s World Cup hopes have taken a major blow with news that star striker Karim Benzema will be out of the tournament after tearing a muscle in his left thigh during training on Saturday.
“Karim Benzema is out of the World Cup,” said the French soccer federation (FFF). “After injuring the quadriceps in his left thigh, the Real Madrid striker was forced to give up participation in the World Cup.”
Benzema was taking part in his first full training session with Les Bleus when he had to leave after feeling pain in his left thigh, the FFF said.
“He went for an MRI scan at a hospital (clinic) in Doha, which unfortunately confirmed a tear,” said the FFF, adding that he will need three weeks to recover.
“I’m sad for Karim that he made the World Cup his main goal,” said France coach Didier Deschamps.
Benzema has barely played in recent weeks and this is his first full training session with Les Bleus.
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.
L’Equipe previously said that Benzema “felt severe muscle pain” in his left thigh in training.
France face Australia on Tuesday in Group D, then Denmark four days later and Tunisia on November 30.
Benzema was France’s top scorer at the 2014 World Cup but did not play in France’s successful 2018 World Cup campaign as he was still exiled from the team for his alleged role in a sex-tape scandal with then-France teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
France coach Didier Deschamps recalled him for last year’s European Championship, where he was France’s top scorer with four goals.
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