Heartbreak As France Lose Top Striker to Injury 5 Days to the 2022 World Cup

• France forward Christopher Nkunku will miss the World Cup in Qatar after picking up an injury
• The RB Leipzig attacker was named in France coach Didier Deschamps' 26-man squad for the tournament
• France will lock horns with Australia, Denmark and Tunisia in Group D at the tournament starting this month

RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku's World Cup dreams have been shattered, after picking up a leg injury in training on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old had already been named in Didier Deschamps' squad ahead of the tournament in Qatar.

However, he appeared to be caught by a 50-50 challenge from Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga at Les Blues’ Clairefontaine training base.

While initial reports indicated it was just a knock, the French Football Federation has indicated that Nkunku has been ruled out of the World Cup following subsequent scans by the medical team.

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"Injured in training; Christopher Nkunku must give up participating in the World Cup,” a statement from the French FA said.

The former Paris Saint-Germain striker is the newest on a list of big-name absentees for the reigning World champions, after injuries to Presnel Kimpembe, Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante.

France’s World Cup group

France are the defending champions, having beaten Croatia in the final in 2018. Les Bleus will be hoping to repeat that feat, considering they will face two opponents they played against during the last tournament.

As the Mirror reports, Denmark and Australia will meet France again in the group stages. Denmark and Australia were drawn alongside Les Bleus in the 2018 edition of the tournament.

Tunisia are the only new team in the group. Four years ago in Russia, Peru competed alongside the other three.

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Benzema leads France's squad

Didier Deschamps has unveiled his team that will defend France's FIFA World Cup title in Qatar, Sports Brief reported.

As expected, the French squad is star-studded, with top players Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Antoinne Griezmann among the most notable.

France beat Croatia in Russia's 2018 World Cup final and will aim to break the dreaded 'champion's curse'. Les Bleus face Australia, Tunisia and Denmark in the group stages.