France have lost star striker and Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema to a thigh injury ahead of Tuesday's World Cup 2022 Group D opener with Australia at the Al Janoub Stadium.

The 34-year-old had only just returned to full training before sustaining the problem on Saturday night, and he adds to France's ever-growing injury list ahead of the tournament.

Mike Maignan, Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante were ruled out before Didier Deschamps selected his squad, while Christopher Nkunku and Presnel Kimpembe have since been replaced by Randal Kolo Muani and Axel Disasi respectively.

With Benzema out of contention, Olivier Giroud can expect to lead the line for Les Bleus, with Kylian Mbappe potentially playing off the left in a 4-2-3-1 setup.

Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele would complete the attacking quartet if that is the case, and a new-look midfield is in order following injuries to Pogba and Kante.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot are expected to line up as Deschamps's double pivot after Eduardo Camavinga sat out training on Sunday with discomfort, while Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez should line up as the full-backs, the latter fending off competition from his brother Theo Hernandez.

While Raphael Varane returned to full training from a hamstring injury alongside Benzema on Saturday and came out unscathed, Deschamps may avoid risking him here, so Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate could protect Hugo Lloris.

France possible starting lineup: Lloris; Pavard, Upamecano, Konate, Lucas Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud

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