Picture Credit: Twitter
Defending World champions France suffered a massive blow ahead of the start of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Les Bleus will be missing Paris Saint-Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe as he has been withdrawn from the World Cup squad after struggling to recover from an injury he suffered earlier in the season.
The 27-year-old played a crucial role during Les Bleus' World Cup-winning campaign in Russia in 2018. But this year, he has been forced to accept that he is not ready to play in the tournament. France manager Didier Deschamps has announced the replacement for Kimpembe and called up uncapped AS Monaco youngster Axel Disasi.
The French Football Federation (FFF) released a statement addressing the issue which expressed that Kimpembe doesn’t feel 100% fit and hence after consultation with Dr Franck Le Gall, he will be withdrawn from the squad. The statement said, “Presnel Kimpembe will not participate in the World Cup.”
“The Paris-SG defender does not consider himself sufficiently recovered to be able to hold his place in the defence of the Blues in Qatar. This decision was taken this morning, in Clairefontaine, after an exchange between the player and the doctor of the French team, Dr Franck Le Gall, and then between the player and Didier Deschamps.”
"The staff of the French team salutes the honesty of Presnel and wishes him to regain all of his physical means as soon as possible. Didier Deschamps has decided, to replace Presnel Kimpembe, to call on Axel Disasi. The AS Monaco defender is expected during the day at Clairefontaine.”
France FIFA World Cup 2022 squad
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Steve Mandanda (Rennes).
Defenders: Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Raphaël Varane (Manchester United), William Saliba (Arsenal), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Théo Hernandez (Milan), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Axel Disasi (AS Monaco).
Midfielders: Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Mattéo Guendouzi (Marseille), Jordan Veretout (Marseille), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)
Attackers: Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona), Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig), Marcus Thuram ( Borussia Mönchengladbach).
