DOHA, Qatar (AP) ā France striker Karim Benzema was reportedly injured Saturday during training in Qatar and is set to miss the defending championās World Cup opener against Australia ā and possibly the entire tournament.
LāEquipe reported that the 34-year-old Benzema, this yearās winner of the Ballon dāOr, āwill not participate in at least the first matchā of Franceās campaign with a risk of not playing in any games.
The sports paper said that Benzema āfelt a sharp muscle painā in his left thigh in training.
France faces Australia on Tuesday in Group D. Denmark and Tunisia are also in the group.
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