By Habeeb Kuranga
Real Madrid and France’s forward, Karim Benzema could make a sensational return to the French squad ahead of the final showdown against Argentina on Sunday
Recall that the forward was out of this tournament after he sustained a thigh injury in training on the eve of the Les Bleus’ first game against Australia. He joined the long list of injuries for Didier Deschamps’ side consisting of Paul Pogba, N’golo Kante Presnel Kimpembe, Christopher Nkunku and Lucas Hernandez who were also out through injuries.
The 34 year old immediately returned to Madrid to step up his recovery process from the muscle tear which took up to three weeks.
“I’ve never given up in my life but tonight I have to think of the team, as I have always done.
“So reason tells me to give my place to someone who can help our squad have a great World Cup.” he wrote on his Instagram page after the confirmation of his injury.
However, the Les Bleus boss, Didier Deschamps opted not to replace him and instead worked with the 25 players in Qatar, as against the 26 players which is the maximum for every teams in the FIFA world cup. Which means Karim Benzema is still a registered player for the Mundial.
Following the 2-0 win against Morocco on Wednesday evening, Spanish media outlet, Mundo Deportivo, reported that the 34-year-old could make a return to the French squad in the final on Sunday after he returned to full training with Real Madrid.
Real have reportedly given Benzema the permission to do so, leaving the ball to be in Deschamps’ court. Asked by the reporters on the possibility, the French gaffer didn’t give an answer, “I’d prefer to move on to the next question,” he said.
Benzema has notched 37 goals in 97 caps for France. He was their highest goalscorer in the 2014 world cup. Though he didn’t feature in the last world cup where France emerged champions, mainly because of his exile from the team after he was found guilty of a sex scandal alongside his French teammate, Mathieu Valbuena for which he was sentenced to a one year suspended prison term and a €75,000 fine in the attempted blackmail.
