Fear for France As Another Top Striker Suffers Injury Days Before the World Cup

Fear for France As Another Top Striker Suffers Injury Days Before the World Cup

Isaac Darko
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:17 PM
In this article:
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  • France forward Olivier Giroud sustained an injury during his side's training session on Thursday
  • The AC Milan attacker will undergo an examination to determine the severity of his injury ahead of the World Cup
  • The reigning world football champions are in Group D of the tournament alongside Denmark, Tunisia and Australia

Olivier Giroud faces a late fitness test, after suffering an injury in training ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

The 36-year-old had already been named in Didier Deschamps' squad ahead of the global showpiece in Qatar.

The reigning world champions landed in Doha on Wednesday, seeking to become the first team to retain the World Cup title since Brazil in 1962.

Olivier Giroud, France, 2022 World Cup, Qatar, Christopher Nkunku, Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante
Olivier Giroud - and the rest of France - are concerned after he suffered an injury during team training. Credit: @beinsports
Source: Twitter

However, their preparations have taken a hit with the news that Giroud sustained a knock to his left foot in training.

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In a video posted on Twitter, Giroud laid on the pitch for a few seconds while he was treated by France's medical team.

The medical staff were sighted spaying the leg of the sombre-faced striker, after he was grounded during the practice.

An initial report by French news outlet RMC suggests that the injury was not too bad, but the AC Milan forward will face a final fitness test on the eve of the World Cup opening game.

Les Bleus will be anxious not to lose any more big names, after midfielders N'Golo Kante, Christopher Nkunku and Paul Pogba missed out on Qatar through injury.

Giroud eyeing Henry's goal record

Meanwhile, Giroud is hoping to smash Thierry Henry's record and become France's all-time leading goalscorer at this year's World Cup.

Giroud turned 36 in September and had not been a regular in recent France squads, but nine goals this season for Serie A champions Milan convinced France coach Didier Deschamps to take the veteran forward to Qatar.

It is Giroud's third World Cup and while he had been expected to feature mainly from the bench, he could yet have a key role to play with doubts surrounding the fitness of Karim Benzema.

Big names miss France squad

France head coach Didier Deschamps has unveiled his 25-man squad heading to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.

While the team features several prominent names, a number of familiar faces also failed to make the cut, Sports Brief earlier reported.

Hugo Lloris, Kylian Mbappe, William Saliba, Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud and Christopher Nkunku are some of the top names in the squad.

Authors
Isaac Darko photo
Isaac Darko
Isaac Darko is a La Liga, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga editor at Sports Brief with a Degree in Journalism and Communications from Ghana Institute of Journalism (2010)
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