{"id":1265544,"date":"2022-12-15T14:08:41","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T14:08:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/12\/15\/benzema-makes-sensational-france-return-for-world-cup-final\/"},"modified":"2022-12-15T14:08:41","modified_gmt":"2022-12-15T14:08:41","slug":"benzema-makes-sensational-france-return-for-world-cup-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/12\/15\/benzema-makes-sensational-france-return-for-world-cup-final\/","title":{"rendered":"Benzema makes sensational France return for World Cup final"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"td-post-featured-image\">\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"696\" height=\"391\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image_2022-12-15_101252027-696x391.png\"   alt=\"\" title=\"Karim Benzema is back fit and could rejoin the France squad (Image: Jean Catuffe\/Getty Images)\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Karim Benzema is back fit and could rejoin the France squad (Image: Jean Catuffe\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Karim Benzema\u00a0could feature for\u00a0France\u00a0in the\u00a0World Cup\u00a0final against\u00a0Argentina, despite missing the rest of the tournament through injury.<\/p>\n<p>Benzema was ruled out of the World Cup after picking up a thigh injury in training in Qatar on the eve of the tournament. He flew back home to Madrid to begin work on his recovery and that appeared to be the end of his chances of playing in the tournament.<\/p>\n<p>The 34-year-old\u2019s muscle tear was given a three-week healing time and he left Doha believing he was going to be replaced in the squad. He joined the likes of Paul Pogba, Lucas Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, N\u2019Golo Kante and Christopher Nkunku in missing the tournament through injury.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/22191989129,1002554\/MGL\/mgl_ado_atunwa_300x250 --><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve never given up in my life but tonight I have to think of the team, as I have always done,\u201d he wrote on\u00a0Instagram\u00a0at the time. \u201cSo reason tells me to give my place to someone who can help our squad have a great World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, manager Didier Deschamps opted not to replace Benzema on the eve of France\u2019s first game against Australia. Instead, he has worked with 25 players in Qatar, rather than 26, and has taken Les Bleus to the final following\u00a0a 2-0 win over Morocco\u00a0on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n<p id=\"amp-readmore-target\">Benzema remains listed on the\u00a0official FIFA squad\u00a0for the World Cup. After recovery sessions and a holiday, the Ballon d\u2019Or winner is now back in full training with\u00a0Real Madrid\u00a0and, according to\u00a0Mundo Deportivo, he could return to Qatar before the final.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/0_GettyImages-1448502241.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"725\" height=\"440\"\/><figcaption><strong>Karim Benzema is back in full training with Real Madrid\u00a0(\u00a0Image:\u00a0Antonio Villalba\/Real Madrid via Getty Images)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Real have reportedly given Benzema permission to do so and the ball is now in Deschamps\u2019 court. Asked by reporters of the possibility following the Morocco win, the France boss didn\u2019t give an answer. \u201cI\u2019d prefer to move on to the next question,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Benzema has 37 goals in 97 caps for France and was Les Bleus\u2019 top scorer at the 2014 World Cup. However, he did not play at the 2018 World Cup in\u00a0Russia\u00a0because he was still exiled from the team for his role in a\u00a0sex-tape scandal\u00a0with then-France teammate Mathieu Valbuena, for which he received a one-year suspended prison term and a \u20ac75,000 fine for complicity in attempted blackmail.<\/p>\n<p>            <!--  [embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=videoseries[\/embed]<!--\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>--><\/p>\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"ctCXoOtCJTE\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NSOROMMA PLUS: Week 4- Truth Ofori performed  Anwawado ie Eboko a ko by Western Diamonds -(11-12-22)\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ctCXoOtCJTE?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Karim Benzema is back fit and could rejoin the France squad (Image: Jean Catuffe\/Getty Images) Karim Benzema\u00a0could feature for\u00a0France\u00a0in the\u00a0World Cup\u00a0final against\u00a0Argentina, despite missing the rest of the tournament through injury. Benzema was ruled out of the World Cup after picking up a thigh injury in training in Qatar on the eve of the tournament. 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