UNDERSTAND THIS – Why Benzema’s World Cup package has turned out for Les Bleus

On December 19, his 35th birthday, Karim Benzema announced the end of his international career after a long, up-and-down adventure with the Blues, capped by an injury-riddled World Cup in Qatar. A package that continues to raise several questions.

• In what condition did Karim Benzema come to the French team before the World Cup?

“I spoke with him to find out the details. And there are no concerns about his condition with our deadlines.” Didier Deschamps wants to be reassured when he announces his World Cup squad on TF1 on November 9. Listening to him, Karim Benzema is ready for one of the last big challenges of his great career. However, there is a certain uncertainty. The Ballon d’Or, who was kept away by a muscle problem for several weeks, simply missed a few games with Real. After playing less than half an hour against Celtic in the Champions League on 2 November, he had to sit out the next two La Liga games. “He’s very alert. He’s not one to stay on the treatment table. There’s no risk to take, but there’s no worry for next week,” Deschamps said. Benzema himself showed his composure on Prime Video two days after the list was announced: “I will be in good shape, I will be physically and mentally ready.” This does not prevent Deschamps from calling on Marcus Thuram as a reinforcement from November 14.

• Why did he lose the World Cup?

It is around 11:00 PM in France when the news falls on November 19. In training, Benzema felt discomfort in the left quadriceps area. The squad understands he will miss the Blues’ match against Australia three days later. Accompanied by Blues doctor Frank Le Gall, he attended the Aspetar medical center in Doha for tests that confirmed what he had feared: he had lost not only the first match, but above all the entire tournament. His World Cup is over before it even starts. This time the left quadriceps was paralyzed. Previously, it was mostly the thigh area of ​​his left thigh that bothered him. “He went for an MRI (…), which unfortunately confirmed an injury to his right femur, which unfortunately requires a three-week recovery period,” announced the FFF. Benzema also reacts: “I have never given up in my life, but tonight I have to think about the team because, as always, reason tells me to give up my place to someone who can help our group have a great World Cup. Thank you. for all your messages of support.”

• Why didn’t Deschamp replace him?

Despite FIFA allowing coaches to make roster changes in the event of a serious injury up to a day before the tournament, Deschamps chose not to replace Benzema. While defending the former Lyonnais management. “It’s obviously a big blow, he said on the microphone of Téléfoot on November 20. Karim did everything (to come back), and so did we. He was in the session and almost felt the muscle pain in an innocuous gesture. did (…) I know you’re looking for controversy, but everything was done (for Benzema to come back). It happened in the game, everything was under control, he was taking a step forward. It can happen, it’s never the right time, It’s not a relapse. There’s a concern at the other end, which prevents him from staying with us.” Earlier, Deschamps had replaced the injured Presnel Kimpembe and Christopher Nkunku with Axel Disasi and Randal Kolo Muani.

• How did it go?

As soon as his package was revealed, questions arose: Did Benzema move on too soon with Real in C1? Was the “muscle fatigue” noted by his club in October-November hiding something more serious? Did the player tell the blue team everything about his uniform? Why not wait a little longer before reintegrating it into the collective Blues sessions? Benzema is nervous. As explained by RMC Sport, he initially believed he was in a rush to move on. Deschamps wanted everyone to be ready for the first game against Australia, which was not entirely the case for Raphaël Varane, who only played from the second game against Denmark. Benzema would probably like the coaching staff to be more patient with him. He also did not appreciate the circumstances of his hasty departure. According to him, he was invited by Blues staff to leave Doha after his package. Did he think he could return before the end of the World Cup? This is a possibility. All this caused a lot of frustration for the madridistas. The fact is that when Benzema left early in the morning, there was no real farewell. That’s not to say he didn’t get along with his teammates.

• Why did the Benzema package become a real deal?

Even after leaving Qatar, the topic of Benzema continues to be talked about a lot. Which has a tender Deschamps gift and that’s an expression. Journalists are trying several times to find out whether it is possible for him to return at the end of the competition, especially in the final on December 18. Deschamps’ response before the France-Argentina clash: “Are you spreading news among foreign journalists? If I don’t answer, you’ll say I’m angry. I’ve had injured players before. Karim is one of them. .The last one to get injured was Lucas Hernandez. Since then I’ve had 24 players to manage and you you know them. Ask your question against these players, if even a little, even a little, even a little, even a little, ask a question against these players. Although Benzema sent a clear message of support to the Blues a few hours before the start of the final, he maintains a rather vague communication on his social networks. The following day, he announced his international retirement at the age of 35. The conclusion of an agonizing story to the end with a choice.

• Could he play again during the World Cup?

The Benzema package remains an enigma in the eyes of his clan. Karim Djaziri, the historical adviser of the “Real” player, assures that the striker could have remained in the French workforce during the competition, especially since he was not substituted. Because in his opinion, he could play at least from the 1/8 finals against Poland (3:1). On December 27, he posted a message on his Twitter account claiming to have received expert opinion supporting his version. Caziri assures that Benzema could have been at least on the bench from the eighth player that I consulted with three experts who confirmed the diagnosis. Benzema will play again in a friendly on December 15, having been given a few days’ holiday in Réunion before returning to Madrid and resuming training with his club on December 10. This has led France to say it is impossible to say whether he will play in the quarter-final against England (December 10), and this calendar confirms the medical staff’s diagnosis of des Bleus is correct.

• What did Daniel Riolo say behind the scenes of the Benzema package?

RMC Sport editorial writer and journalist Daniel Riolo revealed the behind-the-scenes look at the Benzema package, criticizing Deschamps’ management and the egos of some executives at RMC on Wednesday. “Benzema went to Aspetar, we treated him very badly,” he said. for, still in the mindset of ‘I know how to control my body’. He forced more than he should have and hurt himself again. I analyzed the pictures spread on social networks by sports doctors. I was told it was a form of relapse and it was a decision to play him in the round of 16. Risk, however, could be on the bench and even come on when absolutely needed. But in the 1/4 finals, he could play in full. is functioning.” And to add: “When they leave Benzema and the French team doctor says ‘it’s good, you’re injured, you’re going’ and we get a plane for him at 6 in the morning… It’s strange you say. To a guy you called back to the France team: ‘you’re going at night’ He went, so he kept quiet in the weeks that followed. According to Daniel Riolo, “Some players from the French team were not happy with his departure: Griezmann, Lloris, Giroud. Mbappe was neither hot nor cold. There were managers who were not happy with Benzema’s departure because he was taking up some space.”

• What is the response of the French team?

A day after Daniel Riolo’s revelations, the Blues’ entourage wanted another flash with RMC on Thursday. On the side of the French team, it is revealed that it was Benzema who decided to leave Qatar as soon as possible after withdrawing to return to Madrid, and even his personal assistant in Doha struggled to find him a person. plane. According to the French team, the FFF did not leave Benzema alone and the plane ticket was paid for him. He adds that he could have stayed longer at the Blues’ base camp to greet his teammates, but it was his choice to join Madrid so soon. A close friend of “Blues”: “We were not going to wake up all the players at 5 o’clock in the morning to arrange a guard of honor for Benzema.” Those around the French team are also convinced that it was Benzema who wanted to step up their game on the day of his injury and the communication problems of the previous weeks. For the management of the Blues, there was a monster about Benzema’s physical disabilities.