France have reached the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but the headlines have been all about Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema. As soon as France toppled Morocco in the semifinals to book their place in the final, the rumours were back of the injured striker being recalled by France boss Didier Deschamps. Benzema had to leave the French camp ahead of their tournament opener against Australia after sustaining an injury in the training session.
That ended the striker’s hopes of tasting the glory with his nation which he had missed in 2018. And at 34, this would have been his last chance to get his hands as well on the World Cup trophy. However, all his dreams crashed after having to pull out of the squad just days ahead of the their campaign kicked-off. But according to fresh reports, the talismanic forward is back in training and could make a dramatic comeback to the French team ahead of the final on Sunday.
Karim Benzema has permission from Real Madrid to travel back to Qatar
France were plagued with a number of injuries before and after the tournament began, as their chances of defending the their crown looked slim. Prior to the World Cup, key midfield duo N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, who were driving force of their team during the 2018 triumph were ruled out of this edition after suffering long-term injuries. Manchester United centre-back Raphael Varane too sustained a knock, forcing him to miss the opening game against Australia.
And it went from bad to worse, when the trio of Karim Benzema, Christoph Nkunku and Presnel Kimbempe had to abstain from participating in the tournament after injuries hit them in France’s training session just days before the Australia game. Lucan Hernandez’s campaign was then over after he too took a serious knock during the Australia win.
However, there is some hope for France manager Didier Deschamps who can welcome back Karim Benzema for the final. The reigning Ballon d’Or winner has recovered from the injury, and is back training with his club Real Madrid. He is now desperate to re-join the national team in Qatar, but it was all down to whether or not the Los Blancos will allow him. Benzema was a force to reckon with for his club last season, netting 44 goals across 46 games in all competitions to steer them to a Champions League and La Liga triumph.
But constant injuries have limited his game-time this season, having started just 10 of Real’s 20 games in all competitions and scoring only 5 goals. While it was believed the 14-time Champions League winners will ask the striker from not traveling to Qatar, it now being understood that the club has no issue whatsoever in Benzema linking-up with the France squad.
On the other hand, Deschamps refused to comment on the same in his latest presser after the Morocco game after being asked about the plans of recalling Benzema. The France manager had called in Alex Disasi as the replacement of injured centre-back Kimbempe, but rather chose not to call up on for Benzema. That leaves the door open for the striker to re-join the squad and help his country retain their world title. But it won’t be completely wrong to say that France have not missed him, netting 13 goals in 6 games so far.