The next shock for the defending world champion? France’s superstar Karim Benzema has to break off his training comeback due to injury. The thigh tweaks again, he will probably miss the start against Australia.
According to media reports, defending champions France will have to do without star striker Karim Benzema at the World Cup in Qatar, at least in the first World Cup game against Australia. The 34-year-old felt a stabbing pain in his thigh during training in Doha in the evening, the newspaper “L’Equipe” reported. A different area is affected than the one that had previously caused him problems. Benzema had just returned to training after suffering a thigh injury that had plagued him since October.
The French start the tournament against Australia on Tuesday, Benzema national coach Didier Deschamps is said to be unavailable for this game. Whether the attacker is even absent for the entire World Cup should be decided after investigations that were planned for the evening. Other preliminary round opponents for the French are Denmark on November 26th and Tunisia on November 30th.
In the event of the World Cup being eliminated, coach Deschamps is likely to nominate another professional up to 24 hours before the first game. France is already unlucky, it has to do without its stars Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris St. Germain), Paul Pogba (Juventus Turin) and N’Golo Kante (Chelsea FC) due to injury. After all, Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann or Olivier Giroud are available as top-class alternatives in the storm. Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt has already been appointed.
