If it had been up to French national coach Didier Deschamps, Karim Benzema’s WC final start would have happened. The striker fell away with an injury in preparation for the tournament, but it was not so serious that the attacker could no longer play at the World Cup at all.
On 19 November, Benzema suffered a thigh injury during a France training session, national coach Deschamps decided not to call up a replacement. That gave Benzema the chance to return to the selection during the tournament, but the striker himself chose not to use it, according to Deschamps.
The national coach of the losing finalist first addressed the situation in conversation with Le Parisien. Our doctor’s diagnosis matched that of Real Madrid’s doctor. At best, Benzema could have returned to training on December 10. On that day, France played the quarter-final against England, the (lost) final against Argentina was completed eight days later.
Karim Benzema was at France training just days before suffering an injury. The striker has now ended his international career, he scored 37 goals in French service.
The all important conversation
There was therefore an opportunity for Benzema to make the World Cup minutes after his injury, but the striker had long since left the French camp. “We sat together for twenty minutes after the injury news, after which I left him alone. I told him that there was no rush and that he could organize his return. To the team with the team manager. When I woke up the next day, I understood that he had left. It was his decision, he will confirm that. I understand and respect it,” the World Cup winning coach revealed.
Without Benzema, France started with Olivier Giroud in the final against Argentina, the striker was sacrificed before the break by Deschamps, who brought in Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram for Giroud and Ousmane Dembélé. The final battle in Qatar was eventually lost on penalties. Benzema announced after the World Cup final that he would stop as an international. Thus, this will forever remain one of the biggest ‘what ifs’ in football. Especially, the scenario of the final chance that fell into the legs of Randal Kolo Muani.
