KARIM BENZEMA AND DIDIER DESCHAMPS
L’Équipe are reporting that Karim Benzema (34) has made no contact with the French staff since his departure from Qatar just days before the start of the World Cup.
Benzema, the current holder of the Ballon d’Or, was called up to Didier Deschamps’ 26-man squad and made the trip out to the Middle East. However, struggling with fitness issues going into the tournament, the Real Madrid forward suffered an unrelated injury, which was deemed serious enough to rule him out of the entire tournament.
L’Équipe report that Benzema’s entourage are unhappy with the management of the player’s injury, as well as the intensity of the training on 18th November, the day on which he suffered his injury. Benzema wanted to stay with the France squad, which would ha given him the potential to participate in the World Cup, but he was ultimately sent home by Deschamps. The forward returned to training with Real Madrid around one week ago.
Since his departure, there has been no contact between Benzema and the France staff, which includes Deschamps. L’Équipe report that his withdrawal has “broken something” between the manager and the player. Benzema was invited to join the France squad for the final, but he has refused to do so.
[Source: getfootballnewsfrance.com]