Karim Benzema, Real Madrid forced out of tournament due to injury 24 hours before start

Benzema, 34, who won the Ballon d'Or last month, injured his left thigh during a training session on Saturday.

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He was immediately ruled out of France's opening game against Australia, later confirmed that the damage was so severe that he would not play in the tournament.

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"I've never given up in my life, but tonight I have to think about the team, as I've always done," Benzema wrote on Instagram.

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French coach Didier Deschamps said he felt "extremely sad" for Benzema, "who made this World Cup a major objective."

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Benzema missed France's victory at the 2018 tournament as part of a year-long boycott from the national team related to a blackmail scandal.

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Benzema is not the only headline act missing through injury in Qatar. Senegal and Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane was ruled out last week with a knee injury.

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Argentina have lost midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso. Germany will be without forwards Marco Reus and Timo Werner, and Portugal are missing striker Diogo Jota.

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