Last-minute changes continue at Les Bleus. Striker Karim Benzema, package for the World Cup through injury, will not be replaced in the France team, coach Didier Deschamps announced on Sunday. “No”, he replied, questioned on the Téléfoot program about a possible replacement by another player as he could request until Monday from Fifa. He did not wish to justify his decision, believing he had enough attackers around Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé, Kingsley Coman, Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani and Olivier Giroud.
This decision contrasts with the hope expressed by Benzema to “leave (s) a place for someone who can help our group to have a good World Cup”, as he had written on social networks overnight, before leaving Doha on Sunday morning. Deschamps has endeavored to sweep aside the questions about the management of Benzema by the medical supervision of the Blues.
“I know that both of you are looking for controversy. But everything was under control, it’s not even on an acceleration or a strike (that he gets injured). It can happen to have a problem, to get injured. It’s not a relapse, he has a problem on the other side (on the other leg, editor’s note), “insisted the coach. “It’s a big blow, he had done everything (to come back) and so did we”.
Varane restored
Convalescent for a month, Benzema hoped to see the end of the tunnel on Saturday, participating in his first collective training with the Blues. But he injured himself on the front of the left thigh after “an almost innocuous gesture”, a “too big injury compared to the deadlines that await us”, described Deschamps.
“It’s never fun and it doesn’t make you smile,” resumed Deschamps, disturbed by the injury absences of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté, Mike Maignan, Presnel Kimpembe and Christopher Nkunku. “But we have a goal, the group knows very well what is waiting for us. There is a quality, united group, I have confidence in them”.
For his part, the defender of the France team Raphaël Varane, injured since the end of October in a thigh, “will be available” Tuesday (8:00 p.m.) for the start of the World Cup-2022 against Australia, announced the coach Didier Deschamps on TF1 Sunday. The vice-captain, injured on October 22 with Manchester United, carried out his first collective training with the Blues in Doha on Saturday, after having remained on the sidelines of the group since the start of the rally.
Source: Europe1
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
