'Kante also missing' - Ex-Nigeria manager Rohr on the absences of key France players 

Former Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has shared his thoughts on the absences of key players in the France squad competing in Qatar. 

The France squad was ravaged by injury ahead of the World Cup, with Chelsea's N'Golo Kante, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe and RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Christopher Nkunku ruled out of the tournament. 

Kante, a World Cup winner in 2018, has been on the sidelines for four months due to a hamstring problem and has made just two appearances for Chelsea this season as a result of the ailment

Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps could not count on the services of one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. 

Rohr stressed that the French players in Qatar have stepped into the shoes of the injured players, including Real Madrid's exciting midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni who has caught the eye. 

"Paul Pogba has always been a popular team-mate, even if he's been noticed on the pitch from time to time, that's true ," Rohr said to Augsburger Allgemeine.

"Aurélien Tchouaméni plays it brilliantly in the Pogba position, having been trained in Bordeaux for almost ten years - an impressive footballer from a young age.

"Let's not forget that N'Golo Kanté or Christopher Nkunku are also missing. Nevertheless, everything is well compensated."

France will meet Morocco in the second semifinal of the 2022 World Cup on Wednesday. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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