Hard blow for the French team, Kanté forfeits the World Cup in Qatar

Published on : 18/10/2022 – 21:57

Operated on hamstrings, French midfielder N’Golo Kanté will be unavailable for four months, his club Chelsea announced on Tuesday, so he will miss the next World Cup in Qatar.

It is a major asset of which The french team will have to happen at the next football World Cup. French midfielder N’Golo Kanté has undergone hamstring surgery and will be unavailable for four months, which will therefore deprive him of the Global in Qatarannounced Tuesday, October 18 his club Chelsea.

The decision to operate was taken “by mutual agreement” following consultation with a specialist, explained the London club, adding in its press release: “Following a successful operation, N’Golo should now be unavailable for four months.”

The announcement did not surprise anyone, the world champion having only played the first two days of the Premier League with his club before joining the infirmary.

“I’m sad for him. He’s disappointed. He’s had physical problems for the past two seasons. He relapsed following a muscle injury,” said Didier Deschamps. “Not having ‘NG’ is one less force, due to his energy, his experience. Humanly, he is such an endearing little man, who always has a smile. (…) We will miss him “, added the coach of the Blues.

Repeat injuries

A little over a week ago, when he seemed regarding to return to competition following returning to collective training, coach Graham Potter had left him aside for the trip to AC Milan in the Champions League.

“N’Golo had a reaction during training, so we are waiting for more information on that,” said the coach at a pre-match press conference.

“It’s obviously not ideal. It’s disappointing for him and for us. We have to wait to see the degree of seriousness and we will advise,” he added.

A few days later, before the trip to Aston Villa on Saturday in the Premier League, he admitted to being “worried” regarding this “relapse in the final stages of convalescence”.

“Historically, there are things that have happened that are worrying and we must be clear regarding them,” he continued, referring to Kanté’s numerous absences in recent seasons.

Since the 2019-2020 season, the midfielder has missed more than 60 matches for muscle or joint injuries, as well as for two Covid-19 infections.

At 31 and with his contract expiring at the end of the season with Chelsea, Kanté risks not returning until the very end of winter and this surgery almost looks like a last-ditch operation to get his career back on track. on track.

With AFP