Karim Benzema is flying home from the World Cup before kicking a ball in Qatar.The 2022 Ballon d'Or winner has been a formidable force since returning to the French setup but Seth DeValve Jersey when he limped out of training ahead of his country's opening match against Australia, fans feared the worst.Despite coming into the tournament with doubts about his striker's fitne s, Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps will have hoped to put Benzema at the heart of his plans.Defending champions France have one of the tournament's strongest squads but Benzema's withdrawal is a nightmare and extends the long list of injuries that have hit the 2018 winners.Here's the latest on the Real Madrid striker's injury situation.MORE: The Real Madrid forward suffered a thigh problem and was forced to limp away from training on Saturday.Benzema suffered pain in his left quadriceps and following scans in Doha on Saturday evening, the French squad confirmed the bad news via Twitter.Didier Deschamps said: 'I am extremely sad for Karim, who made this World Cup a major target."Despite this new blow, I have full confidence in my group.We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us.- France coach Didier DeschampsThe striker mi sed Real Madrid's Jarvis Landry Jersey final four La Liga matches before the World Cup with an unrelated muscular pain but had recovered just in time to join his team-mates for training three days before kick-off.Touch au quadriceps de la cui se gauche, Karim est contraint de renoncer participer au Mondial.Toute lquipe partage la triste se de Karim et lui souhaite un prompt rtabli sement Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) Deschamps has , as per FIFA guidelines.However, the former midfielder has opted to stick with his current roster, and confirm just 25 players for the tournament, but World Cup rules do allow him to change his mind before the deadline.There will be no replacement for Karim Benzema, France coach Deschamps confirms. After Kolo-Muani replacing Nkunku, no new changes in France list for the World Cup. Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) Losing their star striker marks a major blow for the French team though, who are already without the backbone of their midfield: N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba.France were touted as third-favourites by many oddsmakers, but Benzema's exit put a dent in their hopes.In my life I have never given up but tonight I have to think of the team as I have always done so reason tells me to leave my place to someone who can help our group to make a great world cup. Thank you for all your me sages of support.Karim Benzema. Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) De ma vie je nai jamais abandonn mais ce soir Joe Schobert Jersey il faut que je pense lquipe comme je lai toujours fait alors la raison me dit de lai ser ma place quelquun qui pourra aider notre groupe faire une belle Coupe du Monde. Merci pour tous vos me sages de soutien Karim Benzema (@Benzema) Deschamps' decision has ended the debate over who could receive a late call to replace Benzema, despite his depth of attacking options left at home.Wi sam Ben Yedder was frustrated not to be named in the initial squad after netting 10 goals so far in 2022-23 for AS Monaco.Anthony Martial had some injury trouble this season at Manchester United, but regained fitne s in time for the World Cup, only to be left out of the squad. The 26-year-old has played 30 matches for the national team but never at the World Cup.Nabil Fekir was regularly used as a substitute en- Eric Murray Jersey route to France's 2018 glory but has fallen out of favour since.In-form Bayer Leverkusen forward Mou sa Diaby,Atletico Madrid's Thomas Lemar and Newcastle's Allan Saint-Maximin were all tipped as outside candidates, if Deschamps wants to change his mind and bring in a late No. 26. Following a season that earned him the Ballon d'Or, 2022 has turned sour for Benzema.The striker has already mi sed 11 games for club and country this term... though he's still notched five goals in seven LaLiga games.Now Benzema has mi sed a rare chance to represent his nation at the World Cup while holding the title of world's best footballer.Qatar would have been Benzema's second World Cup. He featuredat Brazil 2014 but mi sed Ru sia 2018 following the sex-tape scandal that saw him barred from the national team.At 34-years-old, unle s he po se ses the superhuman longevity of his former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, his final World Cup chance may have pa sed.MORE: The reigning world champions bring a squad packed with talent to Qatar. Although Benzema is a huge lo s, they have plenty of talent in Sheldon Richardson Jersey reserve to frighten anyone.PositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCapsGK23Alphonse AreolaWest Ham (ENG)295GK1Hugo LlorisTottenham(ENG)35139GK16Steve MandandaRennes (FRA)3734DEF3Axel DisasiMonaco (FRA)240DEF21Lucas HernandezBayern Munich (FRA)2632DEF22Theo HernandezAC Milan (ITA)257DEF24Ibrahima KonateLiverpool (ENG)232DEF5Jules KoundeBarcelona (SPA)2312DEF2Benjamin PavardBayern Munich (GER)2646DEF17William SalibaArsenal (ENG)217DEF18Dayot UpamecanoBayern Munich (GER)237DEF4Raphael VaraneManchester United (ENG)2987DEF13You souf FofanaMonaco (FRA)232MID25Eduardo CamavingaReal Madrid (SPA)194MID6Matteo GuendouziMarseille (FRA)236MID14Adrien RabiotJuventus (ITA)2729MID8Aurelien TchouameniReal Madrid (SPA)2214MID15Jordan VeretoutMarseille (FRA)295Forward11Ousmane DembeleBarcelona (FRA)2528Forward20Kingsley ComanBayern Munich (GER)2640Forward9Olivier GiroudAC Milan (ITA)36114Forward7Antoine GriezmannAtletico Madrid (SPA)31110Forward10Kylian MbappePSG (FRA)2359Forward26Marcus ThuramBor.M'Gladbach (GER)254FWD12Randal Kolo MuaniEintracht Frankfurt (GER)232