DOHA
\nFrance coach Didier Deschamps refused to discuss Karim Benzema after the injured Ballon d\u2019Or winner was spotted arriving on holiday on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion following his withdrawal from the FIFA World Cup 2022.
\nThe Real Madrid striker pulled out of the France squad with an injured left thigh on the eve of the tournament and departed their team hotel in Qatar soon afterwards.
\nHe arrived on Reunion, a French overseas department, early on Tuesday morning following rumours in Spain that he might return to training with his club.
\nSources close to Benzema said the player would stay on the island for a week.
\nAsked about Benzema, who is still officially part of the France squad at the World Cup having not been replaced, Deschamps dismissed the question.
\n\u201cYou are fishing for things there, but these things are not on my mind. I don\u2019t know who is saying what, where or how,\u201d the France coach said at a press conference in Doha ahead of Wednesday\u2019s final group game against Tunisia.
\n\u201cI spoke to Karim after his departure, and you know what his situation is and how long he will be out for.
\n\u201cI am focusing on the 24 players who are here. I\u2019ll let you talk about that and debate it if you want, but I am not going to talk about things that don\u2019t affect what we are doing here from day to day.\u201d
\nThe French Football Federation said Benzema would be sidelined for three weeks after he picked up the injury, technically meaning he could be fit to return for the end of the World Cup should France go that far.
\nFrance have won both Group D games so far at the tournament against Australia and Denmark and a draw against Tunisia on Wednesday will guarantee that they progress to the last 16 as winners of their section.
\nEven a defeat will suffice so long as Australia do not beat Denmark and manage to overturn France\u2019s advantage on goal difference, which is currently superior by six.
\nTunisia have to win the game at Education City Stadium to have a chance of advancing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DOHA France coach Didier Deschamps refused to discuss Karim Benzema after the injured Ballon d\u2019Or winner was spotted arriving on holiday on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion following his withdrawal from the FIFA World Cup 2022. The Real Madrid striker pulled out of the France squad with an injured left thigh on the eve […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":298579,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-298567","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n