The Blues Newspaper in Qatar: Benzema’s drama, Varane’s return and the headband of discord

It’s been a week since the French team reunited to prepare for the World Cup. Bad news came from Doha this Saturday: Karim Benzema was injured late in training with the Blues, ending his World Cup dreams. We’re talking to you.

Blow of the day

We thought for over an hour that skomun had finally left the Blues. Error. She appeared a hundred times. Although he participated in a regular workout for the first time since the start of the week, Karim Benzema injured his left hip at the end of Saturday’s workout. A disaster for the Ballon d’Or and the entire French team, who found out late in the evening that his striker would not play in the second World Cup.

“I never gave up in my life, but tonight I have to think about the team as always, so my mind tells me to leave my place to someone who can help our team to have a great World Cup. Thank you for all your messages of support,” the former Lyonnet wrote on Instagram.

“I am very sad for Karim, who made this World Cup the main goal. Despite this new blow for France, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to cope with the huge challenge that awaits us, ”the national coach said in the evening.

Return of the day

At the same time as Karim Benzema, and with great success, Rafael Varane resumed training. This presence at a milder temperature than usual does not guarantee his presence on the lawn on Tuesday against Australia. In its current form, it only indicates progress in the medical protocol. Will there be enough time to tick all the boxes for an active player in 72 hours? We should know more by Sunday evening. The meeting, scheduled for 19:00, this time will be fully open to the media.

Revelation of the day

He forbids his family from reading the sports press, but says he looks through it himself to pass the time. “As long as you are not coaches, I don’t mind. He does not remember his emotions on the first day in Clairefontaine, but they do not touch him at all. “Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to experience any emotions because I immediately went into competitive mode. »

Monegasque Yussouf Fofana (23) has a rare aplomb. That is what made his press conference this Saturday so special and enjoyable. We ask for more.

Statement: “I can tell you what his hooks are, it’s true”

Axel Disasi praised his Barcelona teammate Ousmane Dembele. It didn’t take long for the Monaco defender who replaced Prenel Kimpembe’s team to discover his knockout speed. “He is a player of great quality and we can count on him to succeed in a great competition,” he said, among other things, at his press conference.

Quantity: 1

The French national team will not be wearing the multicolored One Love headband. The FFF decided to join FIFA’s position and therefore decided to cut back on the initiative, which it nonetheless participated in in September. It is the only federation of the eight present at the World Cup – all European – that has announced that it will match the pattern and thematic armbands proposed by FIFA. Germany, England or Denmark have already confirmed that they will wear a multi-colored armband in support of the fight against discrimination, in particular LGBT people.