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France national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Nov 22, 2022 at 7pm UK
 
Australia national football team

France
4 - 1
Australia

Rabiot (27'), Giroud (32', 71'), Mbappe (68')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Goodwin (9')
Duke (55'), Irvine (80'), Mooy (90+5')

Karim Benzema doubtful for France's World Cup opener?

Karim Benzema doubtful for France's World Cup opener?
© Reuters
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema is reportedly a doubt for France's World Cup opener, having missed the last three La Liga matches with muscular fatigue in his left thigh.

Karim Benzema is reportedly a doubt for France's World Cup opener against Australia in Qatar due to muscular fatigue in his left thigh.

Benzema, 34, has missed the last three La Liga games but has still featured 12 times this season whilst managing six goals and one assist in all competitions.

Nevertheless, according to Get French Football News, the French national team staff "do not believe that Benzema will be fit in time to start" in Les Bleus' opening match against Australia in the World Cup.

France's manager Didier Deschamps is already missing key players for the tournament, with Chelsea's N'Golo Kante and Juventus' Paul Pogba already ruled out.

The Ballon d'Or winner has 37 goals in 97 games for his country, but he did not feature when France lifted their second World Cup back in 2018.

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema after winning the Ballon d'Or on October 17, 2022© Reuters

Benzema had endured a six-year absence from the national team due to his involvement in a sex tape extortion scandal.

Since then, he has re-established himself as a key player for France, starting all four of their European Championships games last summer.

Deschamps can also call on the experience of Olivier Giroud, who is the country's second highest scorer of all time with 49, just two behind Thierry Henry.

France kick off their World Cup campaign against Australia on November 22, before facing Denmark and then Tunisia in Group D.

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Paul Pogba in action for Juventus in July 2022
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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