World Cup holders France will need Kylian Mbappe at his best in Qatar following the loss of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema to injury, coach Didier Deschamps said on Monday.

France begin their defence against Australia on Tuesday as they look to move on from a troubled build-up which saw several key players pull out injured. Benzema was then forced to withdraw over the weekend.

The Real Madrid striker succumbed to a left thigh injury, although he played no part in France’s 2018 triumph in Russia when Mbappe burst onto the world stage.

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