France have suffered an injury blow ahead of the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar with Bayern Munich confirming their defender, Lucas Hernandez, is now set for a spell on the sidelines.
Der FCB have announced that a scan showed Hernandez suffered a tear in his left adductor muscle during their Champions League group stage win against Barcelona on Tuesday. The 26-year-old had started the tie at the Allianz Arena, and headed home his side’s first goal.
- WORLD CUP: ONE PLAYER TO WATCH FROM ALL 32 NATIONS AT QATAR
- WORLD CUP: TOURNAMENT RECORD OF FRANCE ICON ZINEDINE ZIDANE
Bayern Munich expect to be without Hernandez for several weeks but should welcome his France teammates, Benjamin Pavard and Dayot Upamecano, back sooner. Both defenders also developed issues during the Bavarian giants’ 2-0 win over the Blaugrana in midweek.
Pavard had to withdraw from the Group C meeting after 21 minutes after a collision, while Upamecano took a knock to his knee. The latter would leave the stadium in pain, but both will be able to resume training at Bayern’s Sabener Strasse facility over the next few days.
How long will France and Bayern Munich star Hernandez miss through injury?
Bayern Munich expect Hernandez will miss several weeks with his injury, ruling the 32-cap defender out of reigning World Cup winners France’s UEFA Nations League ties. Les Bleus round out their League A Group 1 ties with Austria and Denmark on September 22 and 25.
The UEFA Nations League ties are France’s final fixtures before the World Cup in Qatar this November and December. Didier Deschamps’s side start their tournament in Group D with Australia on November 22, then facing Denmark on the 26th and lastly Tunisia on the 30th.
Hernandez would have wanted to use this month’s meetings with Austria and Denmark to cement a seat on the plane to Qatar. Now, his spot at the 22nd edition of the Fifa event is at risk, with Sport Bild reporting the scans confirmed Bayern Munich’s fears over his injury.
The 2018 World Cup winner limping off against Barcelona concerned Bayern Munich, who instantly feared a lengthy absence. Hernandez is now likely to miss at least six weeks after tearing a muscle bundle in his left adductor, but any setback will put his World Cup at risk.
Deschamps may also use the September internationals as a chance to run the rule over a replacement for Hernandez. The Marseille-born ace has not been a mainstay of Les Bleus’ unit since 2021, after losing the left-back role and not cementing his place at centre-back.
Injury, then, could keep another of France’s 2018 World Cup winners from defending the title in Qatar. Paul Pogba is in a race against time to be fit for the tournament as L’Equipe note the Juventus midfielder may return from knee surgery 10 days before the World Cup.