France Begin World Cup Preparations with Convincing Win but Benzema Faces Injury Concerns
France kicked off their World Cup preparations in style with an emphatic 4-0 friendly victory over Norway. The French side, known as Les Bleus, will next face Paraguay on Sunday in Nice as they continue to fine-tune their squad ahead of the tournament in Brazil.
However, the team will be without key striker Karim Benzema for the upcoming fixture. The Real Madrid forward, who recently lifted the Champions League trophy with the Spanish giants, has been sidelined by an adductor injury that has troubled him for several weeks.
Benzema joined his teammates at the Clairefontaine training centre on Wednesday evening but is not yet at full fitness. Although his condition is not currently considered serious, the 26-year-old remains in a delicate physical state and is not expected to feature against Paraguay.
The injury dates back to May 17, when Benzema sustained a left adductor strain during a La Liga match against Espanyol Barcelona. Despite the discomfort, he received a therapeutic injection to enable him to play in the Champions League final against Atlético Madrid, demonstrating his commitment and determination.
Les Bleus will be hoping Benzema recovers swiftly, as his presence will be vital to their attacking ambitions in the World Cup. The French coach will need to carefully manage his fitness to ensure he is ready for the tournament’s demanding schedule.
The victory over Norway served as a morale boost for the French squad, showcasing their offensive prowess and tactical discipline. The team’s upcoming friendly against Paraguay will provide another opportunity to assess player form and experiment with strategies before the World Cup kicks off.
France’s preparations continue in earnest, with the squad aiming to build on their positive momentum and address any fitness concerns in the run-up to the global event.
