Karim Benzema has responded to Didier Deschamps' claim that the striker told him "he wouldn't have been ready" to play at the World Cup because of an injury by implying the France coach was a "liar". Benzema returned to training with his club on December 10, four days before France played Morocco in the World Cup semi-finals. "When Karim got injured, our doctor accompanied him to the Aspetar clinic to undergo an MRI," said Deschamps. "I met Karim in his room with our doctor who had come to give me the report from the scan... Karim was hurt because this World Cup meant a lot to him. Benzema, who announced his international retirement the day after France lost the World Cup final on penalties to Argentina, appeared to dispute Deschamps' version of events on social media.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 11, 2023 12:41 UTC