Karim Benzema has been a formidable force since returning to the French setup, but his entire World Cup could be in jeopardy after he limped out of training ahead of his country’s opening match of the World Cup against Australia.
Despite coming into the tournament with doubts about the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner’s fitness, Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps will have hoped to put the striker at the heart of his plans.
Defending champions France have one of the tournament’s strongest squads, but Benzema’s fitness could be a critical issue in Qatar, and it is the latest in a list of injuries to befall the 2018 winners.
Here’s the latest on the Real Madrid striker’s injury situation.
MORE: France’s World Cup injury woes: List of Les Bleus players struggling for fitness
Benzema injury update
The Real Madrid forward has reportedly suffered a thigh problem and was forced to limp away from training on Saturday.
Benzema apparently suffered pain in his left quadriceps, according to L’Equipe. The severity of the injury and its consequences will become clear after an MRI scan, the French publication said.
The striker had missed Real Madrid’s final four LaLiga matches before the World Cup with an unrelated muscular pain.
Karim Benzema has suffered a problem in today’s training session with France, as advanced by RMC Sport. More tests will follow. 🚨🇫🇷 #WorldCup2022
France staff will be on it to understand how to proceed with Karim’s problem. pic.twitter.com/kQAhmYflAw
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 19, 2022
Will Benzema play against Australia?
It’s looking increasingly likely that Benzema will be forced to watch from the sidelines when France begin their Group D campaign in Qatar against Australia on November 22 (local time).
Deschamps will be hesitant to risk his star striker if there is any doubt over his fitness, and would prefer to have Benzema fully fit for France’s second game against Denmark if possible.
All good for France if Benzema is out. They got Nku.. pic.twitter.com/AR4Fq2CA1O
— Siavoush Fallahi (@SiavoushF) November 19, 2022
Could Benzema miss the World Cup?
Benzema’s disrupted build-up to the tournament and subsequent thigh injury has potentially put his entire tournament at risk.
If his MRI scan reveals a problem so severe it ends his World Cup, Deschamps has until Monday to call up a replacement for Benzema in his 26-man squad, as per FIFA rules.
The Frenchman has played at one World Cup, back in 2014, but missed the Russia 2018 tournament following the sex-tape scandal that saw him barred from the national team.
MORE: Why didn’t Benzema play for France for six years? Sex tape scandal explained
France World Cup 2022 squad
The reigning world champions bring a squad packed with talent to Qatar. Although Benzema would be a major loss, they have plenty of talent in reserve to frighten anyone.
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 23 | Alphonse Areola | West Ham (ENG) | 29 | 5 |
| GK | 1 | Hugo Lloris | Tottenham (ENG) | 35 | 139 |
| GK | 16 | Steve Mandanda | Rennes (FRA) | 37 | 34 |
| DEF | 3 | Axel Disasi | Monaco (FRA) | 24 | 0 |
| DEF | 21 | Lucas Hernandez | Bayern Munich (FRA) | 26 | 32 |
| DEF | 22 | Theo Hernandez | AC Milan (ITA) | 25 | 7 |
| DEF | 24 | Ibrahima Konate | Liverpool (ENG) | 23 | 2 |
| DEF | 5 | Jules Kounde | Barcelona (SPA) | 23 | 12 |
| DEF | 2 | Benjamin Pavard | Bayern Munich (GER) | 26 | 46 |
| DEF | 17 | William Saliba | Arsenal (ENG) | 21 | 7 |
| DEF | 18 | Dayot Upamecano | Bayern Munich (GER) | 23 | 7 |
| DEF | 4 | Raphael Varane | Manchester United (ENG) | 29 | 87 |
| DEF | 13 | Youssouf Fofana | Monaco (FRA) | 23 | 2 |
| MID | 25 | Eduardo Camavinga | Real Madrid (SPA) | 19 | 4 |
| MID | 6 | Matteo Guendouzi | Marseille (FRA) | 23 | 6 |
| MID | 14 | Adrien Rabiot | Juventus (ITA) | 27 | 29 |
| MID | 8 | Aurelien Tchouameni | Real Madrid (SPA) | 22 | 14 |
| MID | 15 | Jordan Veretout | Marseille (FRA) | 29 | 5 |
| Forward | 19 | Karim Benzema | Real Madrid (FRA) | 34 | 97 |
| Forward | 11 | Ousmane Dembele | Barcelona (FRA) | 25 | 28 |
| Forward | 20 | Kingsley Coman | Bayern Munich (GER) | 26 | 40 |
| Forward | 9 | Olivier Giroud | AC Milan (ITA) | 36 | 114 |
| Forward | 7 | Antoine Griezmann | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 31 | 110 |
| Forward | 10 | Kylian Mbappe | PSG (FRA) | 23 | 59 |
| Forward | 26 | Marcus Thuram | Bor. M’Gladbach (GER) | 25 | 4 |
| FWD | 12 | Randal Kolo Muani | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 23 | 2 |
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