Karim Benzema.
Credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images
(Reuters) --
Forward Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar after suffering an injury in training, the French Football Federation said on Saturday.
The Ballon d'Or winner, who had been suffering from muscular problems, had to leave the training session for France, the defending champions, due to the injury.
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"I am very sad for Karim, who had made this World Cup an important goal. 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 said. coach Didier Deschamps in a statement.
France, already without influential midfielders Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante due to injury, will open their campaign against Australia in Group D on Tuesday.
France's squad list for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
The player thanked the messages of support on his Instagram account once the news broke:
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