How Benzema was dropped from France by Deschamps

On November 19, information that Benzema missed the World Cup was broadcast from Doha. The 2022 Golden Ball is said to have injured the left quadriceps muscle during training. Benzema soon recognized the wound. He went to the Aspetar clinic in Doha with team doctor Franck Le Gall. After the diagnosis, Benzema sent a copy to Real's medical team.

According to Benzema's calculations, with advice from the club doctor, it will take him 10 days to recover. The 35-year-old striker feels his body and believes that he will be back in the round of 16, which means he only missed three group stage matches against Australia, Denmark and Tunisia. However, an unexpected development occurred shortly after on the evening of November 19, when coach Didier Deschamps, along with doctor Le Gall, knocked on Benzema's door.

Le Gall opened the door, with a message that confused Benzema: "I'm sorry Karim, but you have to leave the team". Deschamps stood by, and just remained silent. In that moment, Benzema understood that the head coach wanted to put him out of the campaign to get a starting spot for Olivier Giroud - his favorite striker.

Benzema does not want to argue about his injury. Therefore, he packed his luggage and flew the earliest flight back to Madrid. Dr. Le Gall also admitted privately to Benzema that he was only following Deschamps' orders. The very next day, Benzema began his rehabilitation at the Valdebebas training center, and after a week, he went on vacation to Reunion Island.

The 35-year-old striker completely recovered from his injury not long after, went to the field to train normally, then started, wore the captain's armband and played a full half in a friendly draw with Leganes 1-1 at Valdebebas, Madrid on December 15. .

The details published by AS newspaper explain the cold attitude of the French coach every time he is asked about the possibility of Benzema's return to the team in the knock-out period, because the 2022 Golden Ball is still on the list. 26 French players. "Ask a question about Benzema is somewhat awkward. Asking another question," Deschamps once answered such a reporter.

Meanwhile, Benzema still watches and cheers for France. He wrote on social media: "Let's unite and move forward together Les Bleus". However, this striker refused the invitation of the French Football Federation (FFF) as well as French President Emmanuel Macron to return to Doha with other players who were eliminated due to injury such as Lucas Hernandez, Christopher Nkunku... to attend the final.

A day after France lost to Argentina in the World Cup 2022 championship match, Benzema announced his retirement from the team.

"To get where I am today, I tried and made mistakes, and I am proud of my journey," Benzema wrote with a photo in the France shirt on Instagram on December 19 - the exact date. 35th birthday. "I wrote my story, and the story with the French team is over".

In total, Benzema played for France 97 matches, scoring 37 goals.