Injury to the quadricep of left thigh leaves the Real-Madrid striker Karim Benzema, winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or, in the evening of the French debut match.
The news said that the French fans had not received Karim Benzema, the Real Madrid striker and France’s main hope at the World Cup in Qatar, on Saturday night. He had cut after injuring himself in Ist activity with his training mates on Saturday. The information confirmed by the French newspaper “Le Parisien”.
Karim Benzema did not participate in France’s first training sessions in Qatar, but took part in Saturday’s activity along with Varane, another injured player who was also doubtful for next Tuesday’s debut match against Australia. However, he got injured and left training early. He went to the Aspetar hospital, in Doha, to undergo tests that revealed a lesion in the quadriceps of his left thigh. The striker left the place crestfallen.
According to the management of the French team, the injury will take at least 3 weeks to recover.
Winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2022, Karim Benzema would have his return to the World Cups after being left out in 2018, when France were world champions in Russia. However, he has been suffering from muscle injuries in the current season. He made just 12 of Real Madrid’s 21 matched before the season’s stoppage for the Cup. His last match was on November 2, in the team’s rout over Celtic, in the Champions League.
Coach Didier Deschamps has yet until Monday to name a replacement for Benzema. It is the third cut for the French team before the World Cup in Qatar. Before him, attacking midfielder Nkunku and defender Kimpembe were cut. The team no longer had midfielders Pogba and Kanté, champions in Russia in 2018, who were not even called up due to injuries.
The statement issued by the French team:
“Karim Benzema out of the World Cup
Hit in the quadriceps of the left thigh, the Real Madrid striker is forced to withdraw from participating in the World Cup.
Karim Benzema was forced to interrupt collective training due to pain in the quadriceps of his left thigh.
He had an MRI scan at a hospital in Doha, which unfortunately confirmed a rectus femoris injury, which will require a three-week recovery period.
After talking with Dr. Franck Le Gall, then Real Madrid striker, Didier Deschamps confirmed the cut of Karim Benzema for the World Cup.
‘I am extremely sad for Karim, who has made this World Cup such a big goal. Despite this new blow to the French team, I have complete confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the immense challenge that awaits us’, said the national coach.”