Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the 2022 World Cup.
The France striker is the latest high-profile France player to be ruled out of the tournament, following injuries suffered by N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba and Christopher Nkunku.
The 34-year-old striker started a France training session on Saturday but suffered a thigh injury.
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He went for a scan on Saturday night which revealed he had suffered an injury significant enough to rule him out of the entire tournament in Qatar.
A France FA spokesperson said: “He had an MRI scan which unfortunately confirmed a lesion of the thigh muscle, which needs a recovery time of three weeks.”
France head coach Didier Deschamps decided to withdraw Benzema from his 26-man squad after discussions with Franck Le Gall, the national team doctor.
“I am extremely sad for Karim who had this World Cup as a major ambition,” Deschamps said. “I have total confidence in the group in spite of this latest setback. We will give everything.”
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Benzema added: “In my life I have never given up but tonight I have to think about the team as I have always done so reason tells me to leave my place to someone who can help our squad have a good World Cup. Thank you for all your messages of support.”
Touché au quadriceps de la cuisse gauche, Karim @Benzema est contraint de renoncer à participer au Mondial.
Toute l’équipe partage la tristesse de Karim et lui souhaite un prompt rétablissement 💙#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/cxXFBpgFx8
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) November 19, 2022
The news will come as a huge blow to Benzema. The veteran forward has been in sensational form in recent months — winning the UEFA Player of the Year and the Ballon d’Or — and was set to make his first appearance at a World Cup since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Benzema did not represent France for over five years after being implicated in a blackmailing scandal in 2015.
But he returned to the team in 2021 and has since scored 10 goals in 16 international appearances for the reigning world champions.
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Deschamps could turn to Olivier Giroud to deputise for Benzema, or even the Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani, who has scored eight goals in 23 games this season.
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He will also be permitted to select a replacement for Benzema in his 26-man squad.
France, already without influential midfielders Pogba and Kante as well as Nkunku, open their campaign against Australia in a Group D match on Tuesday.
They then take on Denmark and Tunisia.
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(Photo: Getty Images)
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