Karim Benzema was one of the many victims of the France World Cup squad in Qatar. An even more conspicuous absence given the fact that the Real Madrid forward was awarded the Ballon d’Or in October.
Despite being part of Didier Deschamps’ squad, Benzema’s presence was in doubt due to physical problems that forced him to miss some Real Madrid matches. The official announcement of the 35-year-old striker’s removal came three days before the start of the tournament, following a training session in Doha, Qatar.
But the problems started earlier in Clairefontaine, the meeting point for the Gallic team before they left for Qatar, where, according to the newspaper. L’EquipeThe player allegedly refused to undergo detailed medical examinations to determine his physical condition. A situation that did not satisfy the clinical department of the federation, nor Deschamps, who ended up deciding to expel the player to begin the recovery process at the club, contrary to the desire of the player who intended to remain integrated into the selection work in Doha.
A day after the World Cup final, in which France was defeated by Argentina, in a penalty shoot-out decision, Benzema announced that he was no longer available to represent the national team, and retired after 97 matches and 37 goals for the Blues.
