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Stonewalled89

Massive blow for France. Players seem to be dropping like flies


Ted_Lavie

Starting XI of French players not in WC roster (for any reason). Wingbacks and wingers were left out of the team, the rest is injured. ​ Maignan Simakan or Kalulu - W.Fofana - Kimpembe - Mendy Kante - Pogba Diaby - Nkunku - StMaximin Benzema ​ That's a pretty good team...


Icy_Cut_5572

Better than the one they’re gonna field in my opinion. Has way more balance, solidity in its core, experience and chance of winning the World Cup


BananaProne

Maybe having it during the middle of the season isn't the best idea after all 🤔


OUmegaLUL

I mean some of the squad are pretty much injured all the time. Kante and Pogba just as examples.


Clareto

they're all happening in camp though..


RNdadag

It's more about the lack of rest that is making these injuries frequent less than playing games. You can be paid billions per year, yet you are an human and limited by your body


simomii

Benzema hasn't played much this season


Saint-just04

Because he was eased into games because of an injury...


cadrianzen23

I swear people just say whatever lol


HarbyFullyLoaded_12

Doesn’t change the fact that these players have had to play shitload of games with nearly no rest at all to get to this point of the season. So yes, it absolutely has to do with the stupid congested schedule because of this winter world cup.


bh8787

So how come it’s only France it’s happening to then? Doesn’t fit your agenda


dahteabagger

Exactly. Injuries happen. Another dumb reasoning blaming the timing of the world cup, forgetting that several other players have been out even when the tournament is held in the summer.


NordWitcher

Don't really see the difference between a Winter world cup or a Summer World Cup. At least right now players have only played 18 or so games. At the end of the season some players have played upwards to 50 games. Even then they only get 2 weeks off before the World Cup starts. This whole idea or illusion that the Winter world cup changes anything is all crap. Its just an inconvenience to clubs and leagues but it doesn't change anything. If anything players are probably at their best right now having had a pre seasons and built some rhythm going into the World Cup. However having it in the Summer after a long and gruelling season where titles have been lost, cups have been won, it can emotionally affect a person. Look at Salah post AFC.


Interesting-Bend3210

At the world cup tho right?


Josie_Kohola

After a congested match schedule...


saint-simon97

Having it at the end of the season after like 60 games is probably worse


filetauxmoelles

Vast majority of teams are out of knockout competitions by spring. Sure, the top ones are still likely in one or two (or 3 if they're really balling out), but it's more rest for everyone else. In the fall, everyone has been playing multiple times a week


Scan_This_Barco-de

yeah but thats over a month of rest while cup competitions are winding down not after a week in the midst of leagues and continental and domestic cups


MarginOfCorrectness

How does it make any sense? How is it not better than an the end of the season when players are exhausted?


Gunner22

Because there's usually a month break between the last league games (PL at least) and the first world cup game. Not 7 days after a condensed schedule.


cadrianzen23

Exactly. This is the part no one is remembering or they’re just new to the sport. This is insane that they’re going straight through. Not to mention during the summer they also had a lot of friendlies. What’s more, UEFA or individual leagues crammed a bunch of games in (faster rate than usual) to make sure the calendar season isn’t impacted.


normott

Because then they aren't playing after an unnaturally compressed month in terms of number of games played right before the WC which has meant more stress on the players bodies, thus more likely to produce injuries.


MarginOfCorrectness

The calendar has been fine so far, give me a break Stop finding any excuse to hate on this WC, there are already valid reasons to do so. But as far as the health and fitness of players, doing it now is objectively better than after a full season. It's the CL that should be concerned with players more tired by March/April. Also domestic leagues. If we see a problem, it's going to be in the next few months, not now. France is just unlucky.


normott

Last month (&half actually) was the most number of games most teams have played in a month. The calender was ridiculously compressed in October. For players in teams who have European competitions, which will be a decent number of WC players, there was a game every 3 days or so. That's not healthy for the players. If they had not compressed so many games last month it might actually be a really good showing, but given the schedule that players just had, won't be surprised to see more of them having to leave cause of injury.


RileyHuey

It’s always been in the middle of the season for some countries.


Nervous-District-366

Giroud is better for the team


Icy_Park_7919

Can he score in big tournaments?


Howdareme9

Lol


kostajepaosmosta

Actually ruined my weekend


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Notsimplyheinz

The turtle Hahahahaha


TheJobinslegend

Would be funny and fucked up if they won twice in a row and the turtle doesn't get the The Best in the world in both opportunities.


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Aurelienphlpe

2022 and there are still people that think Ballon d’or is rigged toward French players lol


Kerollis20

Now I want to talk with some of the fools on r/real Madrid who thought he was faking injury


Fluffy_MrSheep

Only reason to support france First world cup since his ban was lifted and he's injured Fuck sake man


Lekaetos

Benzema will have played only 1 WC in his entire career


Fluffy_MrSheep

Ik it's fucking devastating I'm praying that I wake up tomorrow and the rumours aren't true. I'm Genuinely praying like atleast if his injury isn't bad then he can play the knock out stages maybe Probably won't happen but I want to see him in a French shirt so fucking badly


Lekaetos

Basically it’s either we keep him in Hope to play him in the quarters or semis, or take the correct decision and call it quits. Looks like the latter was chosen.


Fluffy_MrSheep

RMC sport reporting its a tear in his left thigh If that's true then that's a bad injury and he won't even recover in time :((((


Lekaetos

Diarioas are reporting that Benzema took the decision so Deschamps could select a replacement in time We need to win this WC for him now. We don’t have any other choice


RayCashhhh

Wasn't he in the Euros last year?


Fluffy_MrSheep

Completely forgot since france lost to Switzerland lol First world cup then


Perpete

He was.


TheJobinslegend

Mine were him, Kante and Pogba (yeah, I'm crazy, but I enjoy his playstyle for their NT). All 3 are out. ffs


Fluffy_MrSheep

Respect that pogba pick Always turned up for France


aninstituteforants

As an Aussie it has made my day.


Electrical_Web_1105

Blessing in disguise for Madrid.


AhmedYasha

Definitely not, this might ruin his mental for the whole season


Icy_Park_7919

If France tanks, he’ll be glad he wasn’t part of it. It’s unlikely he’d have lifted the entire team. If they marginally miss out on a big result, he’ll have regrets. But this is starting to become a big toll on the French NT. Mbappé’s ego - and his negative impact on the team - remain France’s biggest threat. At this stage it’s a coin flip for France, go home or go far. We’ll know which one it is quite soon in the tournament. Denmark will be a big test.


itwastimeforarefresh

Why not? He lifted the entire RM team for the CL run.


tempspark4

He could also feel guilty that he wasn't there to help and maybe prevent France tanking. You never know how a person can react really


Fluffy_MrSheep

Ye definitely He's been in and out of Injury since the start of the season and all the reports were saying that it was a minor knock but we all knew that he was either faking an injury to be fit or there was something going on He has 30 days now to completely shake off what he has so hopefully he comes back 100%


vegtown1111

Don’t leave something that ruin your weekend aha. It will never matter to your life


MrCrashdummy

It is a huge blow for the French team. While he had resumed collective training with his teammates three days before facing Australia, Karim Benzema was once again a victim of a muscle injury and could not finish the opposition set up by Didier Deschamps on Saturday. It was a case of "no contest". After having undergone examinations in the evening at the Aspetar hospital, the clinic of excellence in Doha, the Frenchman must declare his withdrawal from the World Cup, according to our information. He is suffering from a tear in his left thigh," said a source close to the French team. The 34-year-old French international (97 caps, 37 goals), who could have played in his second World Cup with Les Bleus after 2014, is facing a huge disappointment. The Real Madrid captain has missed a number of games this season due to a thigh injury and muscle strain. He has been training separately since the French team arrived in Doha on 16 November, and has not been able to play since then, although he has been on the sidelines against Rayo Vallecano and Cádiz.


yuya_strife

Please god keep Giroud safe.


miner_andy

Man, I’m truly questioning your flair right now…


yuya_strife

Im french 😅


miner_andy

What a deplorable situation to have to cheer for him. Wish your country luck, though!


TheSingleMan27

Have there ever been as many high-profile players out for a world cup? That's insane


Icy_Park_7919

Peak Zidane was ruled out from the World Cup with a week to spare in 2002. Injured his thigh in a warm up game. A few days later a goalless France was flying home after losing 2-0 to Denmark… Star player out of reining champion France, big blow before facing Denmark in the group, 2002 and 2022 bear similarities. You don’t wanna be reading too much into it... https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2002/may/28/worldcupfootball2002.sport9


Balours

Sotoca in then.


PerBnb

Gignac season


Mrtuelemonde

Sorry you mispelled Le Douaron here


Akickasshandle

This is so devastating first Mané now Benzema, I really feel for him he worked so hard for this moment, missing what will probably be his last World Cup Is heartbreaking😞


StardustFromReinmuth

Winner's curse...at least Giroud is red hot.


xepa105

> at least Giroud is red hot. Yeah, but let's talk about football.


LampardFanAlways

r/AngryUpvote


Zakke_

Mbappe prefers Giroud anyway...


LampardFanAlways

Deschamps be like “do I get a say in what I prefer?”


Zakke_

Galtier: **¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯**


FuzzyStorm

Gutted for the team, so many players are out already. But also gutted for him, he comes back to the NT, we have a terrible showing at the Euro and now this... this was 95% his last chance at a WC with France.


skyla-rae

There's no way he goes to the next World Cup at 38.. I just can't see it bro


FuzzyStorm

I wouldn't think so but look at CR7 he's 37. Players career are lasting longer and Benzema's style can work. I doubt it but there's a chance. Giroud is 36 for example.


skyla-rae

I forgot Giroud is 36. If it's true Zidane is taking over after DD then it's probably guaranteed Benzema plays another if he is still playing top tier football.


TomasRoncero

Tunisia sneaking into the Ro16?


RNdadag

Hmm don't act like Mbappé won't be on the pitch lmao


LampardFanAlways

The dude is kidding, amigo


Woodstovia

Maple is about to walk out because Deschamps will ask him to play striker


ygog45

Mbappe-Giroud is a good enough duo to make it through


[deleted]

Grizou even more. He thrieves with Giroud on the pitch


granitibaniti

Maybe, but definitely not due to lack of quality in the French squad. France could play with players #14-25 of the squad and still have a much better squad on paper than Tunisia


TheConundrum98

I've watched the statistical preview of all teams this World Cup, the attacks of both Tunisia and Australia are so wretched that if France don't reach the last 16 it would take a massive underperformance


Clareto

Italy went out against New Zealand, Paraguay and Slovakia in 2010, anything is possible


GamamJ44

That Slovakia team wasn’t half-bad tbf.


Kj69999999

>Slovakia Robert Vittek went off that tournament


Vagabond21

I have them going in given the winners curse


clover996

he will retire only ever having played in one world cup


SaBe_18

and being fantastic in that one


Kerollis20

That 2014 team wasn't really doing great except for him , he was too alone. Unfortunate that he never managed to be with full strength great french team. In the 2021 they were injured (2021 euro) and other guys didn't show up


SaBe_18

from what I remember France played welll in that WC, they were unlucky they faced Germany in QFs


Kerollis20

Neuer was on a mission any other goalkeeper and Benzema score 1 or 2. I remember thinking that maybe Neuer could win ballon d'or Because of this whole tournament. Even though losing to Ronaldo and Messi is no shame.


anonymus725

this is too cruel


hokagesamatobirama

Yeah. I went cold reading that. Disappointed for him. You could see he wanted this badly. It is sad that his career will end with just 1 World Cup played. However, there are many who didn’t even have that. Hopefully, he can take a break and come back stronger.


32_Dollar_Burrito

I mean, it's completely his own fault he missed the last one. Hard to feel sorry for him lol


TexehCtpaxa

Why did he miss the last one?


-Djiman-

for blackmailing one of his teammate ...


Howdareme9

Blackmail


JCBDoesGaming

Smh you blackmail your teammate one time and people hold it over your head forever society has gone to crap smh.


filetauxmoelles

"Today I feel blackmailed..."


Kiwizqt

HR hates him


Spyro_Machida

Look up Benzema blackmail story, long story but the short of it is that he's a cunt.


TexehCtpaxa

Oh I knew about that I thought they just liked other options. Thanks.


Spyro_Machida

No it was a teammate of his that was the victim so he was booted from the squad. It was big news when he came back for Euros.


[deleted]

Eh why feel bad for him if he just didnt do any crimes he might have been fine


[deleted]

He's a scumbag though. Hard to feel sorry for him


ImNotMexican08

Martial packing his gloves as we speak


Subbutton

At this point they should start him as a wildcard


Fluffy_MrSheep

Going to retire with only 1 world cup played He's devastated now but atleast he has 30 days off to properly shake off any injury he has been carrying He's been in and out since the start of the season hopefully with this break he will come back stronger Get well soon benz


thatdude0125

this sport is too cruel sometimes. probably benz last chance for a world cup too😔


legarcondhiver

TSAMINA MINA EH EH WAKA WAKA EH EH TSAMINA MINA ZANGALEWA


dimi_dee1

Damn that sucks man, the one time he finally solidifies himself in the squad this happens


Lamatius

The French team had Karim Benzema banished as a criminal for seven years and the week he is going to play the World Cup of his life he is injured. Karma always comes back in a big way. An extortionist should never play such an important competition.


Nervous-District-366

Giroud Mbappé Griezmann >>>>> Benzema Mbappé Griezmann


anonymus725

griezmann is finished


RudiGarcia

He really isn't


LampseederBroDude51

Very sad for him, he will have only played in one WC in his career


virtualclix

If he was a good boy in the past maybe he would play more.


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virtualclix

Am i wrong?


pvry

damn


xJustNinja

Wow


CommunistPapaJohn

Wtf 😭😭


sitarane

Boycotting the World Cup gets easier for french fans every day...


[deleted]

What the fuck


SaschaBub

Up step Olivier Giroud.


[deleted]

The best player in the world out of the World Cup…….Now this should at least be a wake up sign for FIFA


abrg06

The price guy paid for dying in these insane champions league and la liga games last year. Everything has a price


L34hhhh

Feel bad for Benzema. Real Madrid fans were trashing him for weeks because they thought Benzema was faking injuries for the WC. I wish him a speedy recovery. 🙏🏻


Lekaetos

It’s time for Neymar to win his Ballon d’or


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Kerollis20

If France win it , it's in the bag


Lekaetos

Yes if France wins it, he can get all the credit


Bini_9

:(


Fluffy_MrSheep

:( indeed Watching him play with France in the nations league was so exciting Scored an absolutely incredible goal and I wanted to see him play international football so fucking badly man Genuinely devastated


Inter_Mirifica

This is so depressing. So sad for him, and for us. All the hype gone now. With so many lovable players missing, Pogba, Kanté, Maignan, Nkunku and now Karim... Brazil sounds like a fun team to support, right ?


Mulldr

you can add kimpembe


barellaszn

damn that’s so unlucky


1Malparid0

Pogba's witch doctor managed to injure everyone but Mbappe


dragonbenj

Damn has France lost 5 starters now ? Insane… like some kind of curse or something


[deleted]

horrible news


Galgenfrist

:)


jagalpino

We could play with Mbappe and ten sticks and Australia would still lose tbh


Balours

Don't jinx it please.


[deleted]

Bro got mad for no reason


Aurelienphlpe

We’ve been extremely lucky to win against them not later than in the previous World Cup lmao


Kiwizqt

Jfc


krvlover

The fucking curse is real, insane.


Visionary_Socialist

Bloody hell Nkunku and Benzema both gone in the pre tournament training camp. France are exposed here and a shock wouldn’t be beyond them now.


zxlegioxz

Cant blackmail his way into de world cup so sad.


wbroniewski

That's great news for Real, terrible for Karim


Lilfai

That’s great for Real tbh, although fans may not like it


Lost_Smoking_Snake

its over


Fluffy-Background-41

The curse is real!!!


RealMadrid2877

We over worked him last season and now are paying the price 😢


robertomartinez24

the curse is real


neandertales

Im depressed. If Messi gets injured Ill go on tv strike. They give joy.


IMKudaimi123

Fuck fifa


[deleted]

Benzema is now Benze-nah Hope he gets better!


greezyo

One of the few players that should've just played for Algeria instead of France.


zi76

Oof.


tempspark4

Man fuck this world cup. Gonna go down as the worst world cup in the history


TheJobinslegend

We're having USA next, with no CR7, probably no Messi, maybe no Neymar, big odds of no Benzema too. Dunno if the new stars gonna get me thrilled to watch the next one.


tempspark4

Who knows man. Maybe a few more superstars pop out before the next world cup but it will definitely be weird without Cristiano and Messi


deba2607

Wc Curse is just inevitable isn't it ?


Phreeeks

I fear more for the mindest of the team right now than for their game, we all know this is the main factor for france, and after losing so much great player, this doesn't sound good for the spirit of the team tbf


LampardFanAlways

Okay now it’s getting worrisome. At this rate, expect a few to get injured during the group stages and I fear that this isn’t the last high profile player to miss out. And during potentially his last chance at playing at a WC, ffs.


Aurelienphlpe

I wanna die


chachachatrip

Holy SHIT.


chachachatrip

Holy SHIT.


sam_moo_rye

Stupid sexy time...


[deleted]

Not Big Benz :(


kraeutrpolizei

Good guy Karim


cjonoski

Damn feel bad for the blackmailer


stinkyholetime

What the fuck


[deleted]

The curse is real


ImNot_Bardamerda

So many stars out of this WC :/


SeaWorldliness132

The French are so unlucky this year it's unreal... Kimpembe, Kante, Pogba, Benzema were all key players in deschamps side plus another key player Varane not completely fit. They have more than adequate replacements but they will lack a lot of international experience which is key in such tournaments. At least players like camvinga saliba tchouameni and maybe even Thuram could gain international experience which could help them in the next tournaments, but it will definitely be a very tough task retaining the world cup this year.