Next personal setback for football world champions France: Lucas Hernández, defender from FC Bayern Munich, was injured and replaced early on Tuesday in the 4-1 win over Australia. It was clear on Wednesday morning: Hernandez suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in his right knee and will no longer be available for the rest of the World Cup in Qatar.
This was announced by the French association FFF on Wednesday. Hernandez has to reckon with a six-month break. Immediately before the start of the tournament, national coach Didier Deschamps had to cope with the loss of top scorer Karim Benzema. Paul Pogba, Christopher Nkunku from Leipzig, N’Golo Kante and Presnel Kimpembe are also missing anyway.
“We realized immediately that it was something worse,” said France captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after the game against the Socceroos: “Of course it’s a setback, but we’re going on and looking ahead.” The teammates were shocked too. Olivier Giroud had just shot himself into the history books, but the Equipe Tricolore’s record scorer was not overjoyed: “We’re sad about Lucas, we want to dedicate this win to him,” said Giroud after the win against Australia.
After the defending champion’s sporting debut at the World Cup in Qatar, Deschamps had already suspected that Hernández could have been “very seriously” caught. Hernández fell to the ground in the early stages of an unsuccessful defensive action and then held his right knee. It quickly became clear that things couldn’t go on.
Supported by paramedics, he hobbled off the field, Deschamps spoke of a “heavy blow” for his team. “Now I have to think about how to replace Lucas,” said the coach: “But we have alternatives.”
