Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the French Football Federation has confirmed.
The Ballon d’Or winner, who has been struggling with a muscle problem, was forced to leave defending champions France’s training session earlier on Saturday.
“I am extremely sad for Karim who had made this World Cup a major objective. Despite this new blow for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us,” said coach Didier Deschamps in a statement.
France, already without influential midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante because of injury, open their campaign against Australia in Group D on Tuesday.
More to follow…
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