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FootballWorld Cup 2022: France Boss Fumes at Constant Benzema Return Questions
- France coach Didier Deschamps has expressed his dissatisfaction with repeated reports of Karim Benzema's improbable return
- Benzema was ruled out of the World Cup due to a thigh injury but has recently recovered and is back with Real Madrid
- Despite not playing a single minute in France's route to the finals, the 34-year-old could receive a winner's medal if Les Bleus defend their title
Didier Deschamps has vented his spleen at persistent questions about Karim Benzema's potential return to the France camp ahead of the World Cup finals against Argentina.
Benzema, who was named in Deschamps' 26-man squad for the soon-to-end tournament, suffered a heartbreaking injury prior to the start of the World Cup.
Fast forward, the reigning Ballon d'Or holder has recovered from his thigh injury and is back in Madrid with reports swirling about his potential involvement in the Grand Finale, Daily Mail notes.
Ahead of the finals, Deschamps has had to fend off a flurry of queries in the media about Benzema making a shock appearance in the squad despite the player in question dismissing such reports with a cryptic message on social media.
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When quizzed about Benzema's possible involvement against Argentina, the 54-year-old manager angrily responded: "Are you spreading the word among foreign journalists? If I don't answer, you'll say I'm p1ssed off. I have players who have been injured before," he said via GOAL.
"Karim is one of them. The last to be injured is is Lucas Hernandez. Since then, I have 24 players to manage and you know them. To ask the question vis-a-vis these players, if I may say so, is at least clumsy, if not a little more.
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Football"The group is there. I don't take care of the invitations of players, former players or injured players. I don't know who will be there," he ended.
Benzema dismisses World Cup rumours
France striker Karim Benzema has emphatically ended the talks of his stunning return to France's 2022 World Cup squad ahead of the final.
France face Argentina on Sunday and there were rumours that the Real Madrid talisman would be available for selection.
The Ballon d'Or winner recently recovered from the thigh injury that ruled him out of Qatar and there was a slight chance he could be in contention for the final on Sunday, December 18th.
France camp struck by illness
Sports Brief earlier reported that French defenders Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate are the latest players to fall ill, ahead of Sunday's World Cup final against Argentina.
The pair played as Les Bleus booked their spot in football's biggest tournament final, by beating Morocco 2-0 in the semi-finals on Wednesday evening.
However, reports emanating from France squad suggest that both Varane and Konate have fallen ill just two days before the final showpiece.