The Latest Breaking News from Didier Deschamps

France boss Didier Deschamps is having to rejig his frontline after Karim Benzema was ruled out of the World Cup through injury with a new role for Kylian Mbappe

Doha (AFP) - France are the World Cup holders, but a troubled build-up to their defence of the trophy means Les Bleus will go into Tuesday's opening game in Qatar against Australia with the spectre of 2002 hanging over them.

One month after raising the Ballon d’Or in triumph to crown his remarkable rise, Karim Benzema’s dream of winning the World Cup is over before he has even played a game in Qatar. Defending champion France’s World Cup hopes took a huge blow with the news that its star striker…

The Real Madrid striker was hit with a brutal injury blow on the eve of the World Cup in Qatar during an incident in training and has issued an update having been forced to withdraw from the squad

Doha (AFP) - France's hopes of successfully defending the World Cup were dealt a huge blow late on Saturday as Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema was ruled out of the tournament in Qatar with an injured left thigh.

Benzema is the reigning Ballon d’Or holder after a brilliant year for Real Madrid

Defending champion France’s World Cup hopes have taken a huge blow with the news that star striker Karim Benzema is out of the tournament after tearing a muscle in his left thigh during training

The Real Madrid striker will play no part in the tournament in Qatar.

Doha (AFP) - Ballon D'Or winner Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the World Cup with a left thigh injury on Saturday dealing a serious blow to defending champions France's hopes of retaining the trophy.