Defending champions France will not replace the injured Karim Benzema in their World Cup squad, coach Didier Deschamps said on Sunday.
Benzema was ruled out of the 2022 World Cup after tearing a muscle in his left thigh, in a huge blow to France’s hopes of retaining the trophy in Qatar.
The 34-year-old Ballon d’Or winner, came into the tournament having suffered knee and hamstring injuries and had been training away from the French team.
Benzema wrote on Instagram: “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 group make a good World Cup. Thank you for all your messages of support.”
Deschamps said he would not ask for a replacement for the Real Madrid forward even though FIFA’s rules give him until Monday to do so.
Deschamps told France’s TF1 that although the Benzema setback was “not nice”, he was confident in the depth of his squad.
“But we have an objective and we have a quality squad with players who know what awaits them. I have confidence in them.”
Deschamps brushed away questions about the French team’s handling of Benzema who had been nursing an injury for the past month.
“I know that you’re looking for controversy,” he said. “But everything is under control, (the injury) was not even caused by him accelerating or shooting.
“Anyone could have a problem like that and get injured.”
Deschamps said, though, that centre-back Raphael Varane would be available for the opening game against Australia on Tuesday.
The Manchester United defender had been sidelined with injury since 22 October but trained with the team for the first time on Saturday.
Since winning the Ballon d’Or last month, Benzema has played fewer than 30 minutes for Madrid after coming off the bench in a Champions League game against Celtic.
Benzema was France’s top scorer at the 2014 World Cup but did not play in France’s victorious 2018 World Cup campaign. France coach Deschamps recalled him for last year’s European Championship, where he was France’s top scorer with four goals.
Forward Christopher Nkunku was injured just minutes before the end of the team’s previous training session on Tuesday evening and has since been replaced in the squad by Randal Kolo Muani.
Deschamps is already missing midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, who helped France win the World Cup four years ago.
Fellow World Cup winner and central defender Presnel Kimpembe pulled out of the France squad on Monday after failing to sufficiently recover from a six-week layoff following a hamstring injury.
Even without Benzema, France still have a strong attack to face Australia. They are likely to start with Olivier Giroud as the central striker, flanked by 2018 World Cup star Kylian Mbappe and either Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele or veteran Antoine Griezmann.
Giroud has scored 49 goals for France, Griezmann has 42 and the 23-year-old Mbappe already has 28. Dembele has been in fine form for Spanish league leaders Barcelona this season.
Les Bleus are in action against Denmark in four days before they take on Tunisia on 30 November.
AFP/ Sky Sports