France boss Deschamps confirms Ekitike to miss World Cup / Photo: © AFP
-
Most equities rise after oil price plunge, US data in focus
-
Tom Kim defies jet-lag, Kho cards ace as Asian Games golf begins
-
Polar oceans transformed as warming melts ice habitats: research
-
Thai teen rocker Nene aims to tour, write music... and return to school
-
Lost shark becomes viral star in South Korea
-
Ivory Coast clamps down on harmful illegal gold rush
-
Dangote to launch $16bn refinery in Kenya
-
Nagoya mayor says sorry for Asian Games 'inconveniences'
-
North Korean leader 'extremely obese': Seoul spy agency
-
G20 trade officials meet under shadow of tariffs, overcapacity
-
Yankees and pope-backed White Sox start MLB playoffs with wins
-
India's fat dog vote goes viral
-
Malaysia's ex-PM Mahathir in hospital for observation
-
Asian Games crowds in spotlight as 998 see hosts in 50,000 stadium
-
'No limits': Marathon world record holder Sawe chasing history
-
The eight stadiums for the 2027 Rugby World Cup
-
Countdown begins to biggest-ever Rugby World Cup
-
Thieves swipe drugs under nose of Fiji police, swap with flour
-
Bangladesh women lose ground after quota reform
-
South Korea demands North apologise for DMZ mine blasts
-
Vietnam admits 'differing opinions' on Hanoi development
-
In Nepal's flood zone, teachers mourn students who never returned
-
Stocks temper gains as oil pares heavy losses, US data in focus
-
US Supreme Court lifts limits on third-country deportations
-
New Zealand denies breaching climate commitments to EU
-
Antonelli eager to 're-establish order' as F1 returns to Malaysia
-
Albert becomes youngest US scorer in 4-2 win over Chile
-
Paw-fect candidate: Australia finds new koala rescue dog
-
Pirate island's plunging population shows Greece's demographic decline
-
One third of world population exposed to harmful air pollution: monitor
-
With elections ahead, Latvia's Russian-speakers reject Moscow's help
-
North Korea denies South's claim it was apparently behind DMZ mine blasts
-
Brazil football clubs face massive sponsorship blow from betting ban
-
West Bank's violent settlers part of a new generation fuelled by ideology
-
ChatGPT maker wants to be the App Store for AI as safety concerns grow
-
US-led coalition ends mission in Iraq
-
Women fight fires and sexism in Indonesian Borneo
-
Pope-backed White Sox join Braves with MLB playoff wins
-
Forsling's OT blast lifts Florida over Carolina in NHL opener
-
NBA close to picking new $12-13bn Vegas team owners: report
-
Hurricane Polo sweeps over Mexico's Pacific coast, heads inland
-
LA28 Olympics torch relay to visit all 50 states
-
Grynspan pulls ahead in race to lead UN: diplomat
-
Spain brush aside Croatia in Nations League, England down Czechs
-
Trump touts AI boss pledge to self-regulate
-
Trump hails 'morally binding' AI self-regulation pledge
-
Oil down, but stocks lower as bond yields rise
-
Yamal inspires Spain to Croatia romp on World Cup homecoming
-
England break down stubborn Czechs to claim first Nations League win
-
UN to hold fourth informal poll of secretary-general candidates
France boss Deschamps confirms Ekitike to miss World Cup
Liverpool and France forward Hugo Ekitike will miss the 2026 World Cup after suffering a serious injury in his club's Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain, his national team coach Didier Deschamps said Wednesday.
The 23-year-old crumpled in a heap holding his lower right leg with a suspected ruptured Achilles tendon during the first half of Liverpool's 2-0 quarter-final second-leg defeat to European champions PSG on Tuesday.
"Unfortunately, the severity of (Ekitike's) injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup," Deschamps said in a statement released by the French football federation.
"This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team.
"I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff."
Ekitike has scored 17 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for Liverpool since arriving at Anfield for a fee of £79 million ($105.5 million) last summer.
Since winning his first France cap in a World Cup qualifier in September last year, Ekitike has been a regular in Les Bleus' set-up, scoring two goals and providing one assist in his eight caps.
R.Flueckiger--VB
