Karim Benzema, recently winner of the Ballon d’Or and striker for Real Madrid and the current world champion French team, suffered from muscular problems that he had been suffering from for some months.
“I am very sad for Karim, who had made this World Cup an important objective. Despite this new shock for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything possible to face the enormous challenge that awaits us,” he declared. coach Didier Deschamps in a statement.
France will have its World Cup debut against Australia next Tuesday and is one of the strongest candidates to win the tournament held in Qatar. As part of Group D, the French team could meet the Mexican, in the Round of 16, in one of the scenarios most proposed by specialists.
Benzema, 34, is considered one of the most lethal forwards on the planet and this year he was recognized with the Ballon d’Or, which recognizes the best footballer in the world.
With the loss of the player from Lyon, Deschamps will have to rethink his game scheme for the tournament, although the rest of his squad has enough personnel to go far in the World Cup.