It is now official that Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema is out of the 2022 World Cup, so Milan striker Olivier Giroud becomes the first-choice centre-forward for France.
Benzema was all set to be one of the major stars of the tournament in Qatar, which kicks off on Sunday afternoon with the hosts against Ecuador.
The Real Madrid hitman came into the training camp with coach Didier Deschamps already suffering from a knee issue.
However, he took part in a game between ranks today and limped off with a new muscular injury.
After tests in the local hospital, it has now been officially confirmed that Benzema has suffered a strain to the quadriceps in the left thigh.
He is out of the World Cup squad, which automatically bumps Milan striker Giroud to the role of first-choice centre-forward.
The 36-year-old has scored nine goals and provided five assists in 19 games at club level between Serie A and the Champions League so far this season.
Giroud has 49 goals in 114 senior caps for France and now has a central role in the tournament.