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| Head coach of France Didier Deschamps (L) leads a training session ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final Match against Argentina, at Al Sadd SC Academy Training Fields in Doha, Qatar on December 16, 2022. |
Didier Deschamps has ruled out the prospect of Karim Benzema making a dramatic comeback to the France squad to figure in Sunday’s World Cup final against Argentina.
The Ballon d’Or winner had suffered a thigh injury in training that seemed to end his tournament before it began.
But the striker has made a swift recovery and appeared in a behind-closed-doors friendly for Real Madrid against Leganes, prompting suggestions Deschamps, who had never replaced him in his squad, could bring him back to face Argentina.
But the France manager denied that could happen, saying: “Some players have been injured and Karim Benzema is one of them and Lucas Hernandez got injured in the first game. From that point on, I have 24 players in my squad and they are the ones at my disposal, so I don’t think it is fair to those players to ask about players who aren’t here.
“It is not up to me to decide who comes to watch the game, former players or injured players, I focus on my squad and the players at my disposal. We have lost three Christopher Nkunku, Karim Benzema and Lucas Hernandez and I lost them even though they were in the squad to begin with. So now I am focusing on my 24-man squad and they are the ones I will have at my disposal tomorrow.”
