Karim Benzema tore a muscle in his left thigh in training on Saturday and is the most recent addition to France’s injury list, which already included team regulars N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, and Christopher Nkunku.
Benzema has been among the world’s most prolific scorers in recent years. SinceCristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid in 2018, the Frenchman has taken on the mantle of being the team’s central attacking force and has significantly raised his game.
Benzema had not played for the national team since October 2015. But his club form made it impossible for France manager Didier Deschamps to exclude him from his plans. Benzema got out of purgatory last summer and was included in the French squad for Euro 2020, where he struck up a lethal partnership with Kylian Mbappe up front and scored four goals in the competition, including a brace against Portugal.
His team will be hurting too. Without one of the world’s best strikers, France will find it significantly harder to retain its title.
Mustapha Hadji – Ahotor Sports
