FRANCE manager Didier Deschamps has hit out at a reporter while confirming that Karim Benzema will NOT play in the World Cup final.
Les Bleus are set to take on Argentina tomorrow in the showpiece and the Real Madrid striker won’t make a surprise appearance.
The 34-year-old was named in the France squad but injured his thigh prior to the start of the tournament and was sent home.
It has now emerged that he is back training with his club fuelling speculation he could return to Qatar for the final.
Deschamps dismissed these rumours angrily after being repeatedly asked about Benzema and where he’d be watching the final, saying: “Are you spreading the word among foreign journalists?
“If I don’t answer, you’ll say I’m p***ed off.
“Some players have been injured and Karim Benzema is one of them and Lucas Hernandez got injured in the first game.
“From that point on, I have 24 players in my squad and they are the ones at my disposal, so I don’t think it is fair to those players to ask about players who aren’t here.
“It is not up to me to decide who comes to watch the game, former players or injured players, I focus on my squad and the players at my disposal.
“We have lost three – Christopher Nkunku, Benzema and Hernandez. I lost them even though they were in the squad to begin with.
“So now I am focusing on my 24-man squad and they are the ones I will have at my disposal tomorrow.”
It is not the first time the manager, who is looking to win the World Cup twice in a row, has been frustrated by questions relating to Benzema.
Earlier this week, with a sigh and a smirk, Deschamps responded to another journalist asking about the Ballon d’Or winner, saying: “I don’t really want to answer that question. Next question. I do apologise.”
There has been speculation that Benzema is angry due to him not being allowed to return to France’s camp despite seemingly being fit.
The French could do with extra numbers amid reports that there is a sickness bug spreading around the team – it kept Adrien Rabiot out of the semi-final.
