Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has allegedly experienced another falling out with France manager Didier Deschamps and has ceased contact with the Bleus head coach.
The Ballon d'Or winner was named as one of Deschamps's 26 players for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but suffered a fresh thigh injury after making a return to full training following previous fitness troubles.
Benzema's new problem required a three-week recovery period, and he was subsequently ruled out of the World Cup in another devastating injury blow for Deschamps.
In the 34-year-old's absence, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe have struck nine goals between them to send France to the final, where they will defend their title against Argentina on Sunday.
Deschamps elected not to call upon a replacement for Benzema following his injury, and the ex-Lyon man is therefore eligible to play for Les Bleus in Sunday's contest, having now fully recovered from his problem.
Deschamps refused to comment when asked if Benzema could play in the final following France's semi-final win over Morocco, but he has now confirmed that the Real Madrid attacker will not play a part in the contest.
The 54-year-old has since affirmed that he will not recall Benzema, telling reporters: "I have players who have been injured before. Karim is one of them. The last to be injured is Lucas Hernandez.
"Since then, I have 24 players to manage. Asking the question vis-à-vis (with regard to) these players, it's awkward to say the least, if not a little more. The group is there. I don't care about invitations from players, former players or injured players. I don't know who will be there.
"We had a group at the start and who, from what happened... we lost three, with [Christopher] Nkunku at the beginning. They were part of the beginning of the adventure. They will be 24 important players for France tomorrow."
Now, fresh revelations from L'Equipe state that Benzema wanted to remain with the squad in Qatar for his rehabilitation, but France staff went against his wishes and sent him home instead.
The decision to expel Benzema from the camp was reportedly made by Deschamps and doctor Franck Le Gall, and the report alleges that the striker's relationship with his manager has become strained again.
As a result, Benzema is not expected to make the journey to Qatar to pick up a winners' medal if France beat Argentina, and his international future beyond the World Cup is shrouded in uncertainty.
The striker endured a six-year exile from the national team between 2015 and 2021 after a falling out with president Noel Le Graet, but he returned for France's warm-up friendlies with Wales and Bulgaria prior to Euro 2020.
Benzema has struck 37 goals and set up 20 more in 97 senior international appearances for France, with his most recent cap and goal coming in a Nations League defeat to Denmark in June.
The Real Madrid veteran has only ever played at one World Cup in 2014 and won his only senior international honour to date in the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League. body check tags ::
