Ballon d’Or winner and French striker Karim Benzema has been cleared to play the FIFA World Cup final on Wednesday. When a reporter asked the question to French coach Didier Deschamps in the post-semi-final press conference, he answered with a smile, leading to massive speculations.
Karim Benzema has been the most successful player of the year as he won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award for the first time in his career in 2022. The French attack was expected to be deadly in the presence of Kylian Mbappe, Benzema, and Olivier Giroud.
However, a last-minute left-thigh injury meant that Benzema was ruled out and didn’t play any matches at the World Cup so far. But France embraced two sweet news on Wednesday; along with making it to the finals, they can now also have their star player back for the biggest match of the tournament.
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The French attack has been unstoppable in the event, making inroads and scoring goals against the toughest of opponents like England and Morocco. A fit Benzema’s addition to the ranks may unnerve Argentina, whose defense is not as fearsome as their attack led by Messi.
However, Benzema’s return may not be as simple as it looks. The French team has evolved over the course of the cup as a well-oiled machine. Also Mbappe, Giroud and Griezmann, the other main strikers for Les Bleus alongside Benemza, have been in terrific form and it is doubtful whether Deschamps will go for a potentially destabilising change at the end of the tournament.
Defense can turn out to be the Achilles heel for both sides as France won only one game in the World Cup where they didn’t concede a goal and that too in the semis. The French defenders and goalie Hugo Lloris will have their task cut out in the face of Argentina’s terrific tandem – Messi and Alvarez
