The French striker Karim Benzema, current Ballon d’Or, was seen this Saturday “forced” to withdraw from participation in the World Cup that starts this Sunday due to a left thigh injury.
“Deceived in the quadriceps of the left thigh, Karim Benzema is forced to give up participating in the World Cup. The whole team shares Karim’s sadness and wishes him a speedy recovery,” the French team read on Twitter.
The striker, the federation says, underwent an MRI in Doha which “unfortunately confirmed an injury that will require at least three weeks of recovery,” read a note posted on the FFF’s official website.
Benzema, 34, had already missed the 2018 World Cup in Russia, in which the French team won the trophy, but due to disciplinary problems with the FFF.
“I am extremely sad for Karim, who has made this World Cup his main objective. Despite this new blow to the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do our best to meet the immense challenge that awaits us,” he said. the French coach, Didier Deschamps, in statements also broadcast by the FFF.
Hours before, the French press had already noticed that the Real Madrid player had left training early in France, only anticipating that his presence in the opening match of the Frenchmen could be in danger.
This was Benzema’s first training session to work alongside the rest of the team, after being limited for several days due to physical problems.
Before joining the work of the reigning world champions, the 34-year-old striker, winner of the last Ballon d’Or and FIFA player of the year award, was already resting at Real Madrid due to muscular problems.
Benzema is the first Ballon d’Or to miss the World Cup after his coronation since 1978, when Allan Simonsen, awarded in 1977, saw Denmark fail to qualify.
France will compete in Group D with Denmark, Tunisia and Australia, making their debut precisely on Tuesday against the Australians, at Al Wakrah.
Source: TSF
