ANTHONY MARTIAL’S World Cup bid is in ruins after Didier Deschamps confirmed he would not call up the striker.
The Frenchman has struggled with injury this season but has enjoyed a productive time in the minutes he has been on the pitch.
In just 292 minutes of action Martial has returned with four goals and two assists.
And following a thigh injury to Karim Benzema which has ruled him out of the tournament, the sequitur to this would have been to call up a forward as a replacement.
However, France boss Deschamps has confirmed he will not be calling up a replacement for the Real Madrid star.
When asked by reporters whether a replacement would be drafted in, Deschamps simply responded: “No.”
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On Benzema’s absence he added: “I am extremely sad for Karim Benzema who made this World Cup a major goal.
“Despite this new blow for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us.”
Benzema has enjoyed a fantastic year with his club side, seeing him pick up the Ballon d’Or.
He would have hoped to bolster the French chances of retaining the World Cup after victory in 2018.
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But now Benzema is joining a long list of names on the sidelines.
Christopher Nkunku, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Presnel Kimpembe and Mike Maignan were already ruled out, while Raphael Varane and Jules Kounde remain in a battle to get match fit in time.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
