Spanish journalist Anton Meana has lifted the lid on the rift between Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and France coach Didier Deschamps.

Benzema was released from the France squad before the World Cup kicked off due to a thigh injury, though he was playing in a friendly for Real Madrid before last week's semifinal.

Meana told El Larguero: "What comes closest to a credible version when you ask France is that Benzema did not tell the truth to Deschamps. That he wasn't as physically fit as he was trying to pretend. That the FFF sees him in training, sees that he is not well and Deschamps feels a relative betrayal. That's why he sends him home.

"The truth is that the medical report that Real Madrid received from the FFF does not appear to be too serious for a player to return home. France sends him back and does not envisage his return to Doha at any time. Benzema would have been ready to come back.

"Furthermore, those around him say he would have recovered in Game 2 or 3, without returning to Madrid."