The defending World Cup champions were dealt another brutal injury blow on the eve of the opener in Qatar.
On the eve of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, defending champion France was dealt another brutal injury blow.
Star striker Karim Benzema reportedly could miss the team’s group opener against Australia on Tuesday after suffering an injury in his first full training session with the squad on Saturday. RMC Sport first reported the news that Benzema had to stop his training session early, while L’Equipe reports that the Ballon d’Or winner is in danger of being ruled out from France’s 2022 opener—and potentially the World Cup altogether.
Benzema is set to undergo further examination to determine the full extent of the injury. In the meantime, France manager Didier Deschamps will have until 24 hours before France’s first match to call up another player.
The Real Madrid star and reigning Ballon d’Or winner had been nursing knee and hamstring injuries that left his availability for the La Liga club limited in recent weeks. However, the injury that affected him in training Saturday is believed to be a new leg ailment.
Benzema is just the latest member of the French national team to come down with an injury ahead of the tournament. The 2018 champs are already without star midfielders N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba, along with a host of other key players like Wesley Fofana and Christopher Nkunku, with the latter being hurt in a training session just before France begins play in Qatar.
France will open their Group D slate against Australia on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET.
