Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier has suffered a significant right thigh injury during training on Wednesday, casting serious doubt over his participation in the upcoming World Cup. This setback follows the recent absence of Achraf Hakimi, adding to the club's injury concerns as reported by RMC Sport. The injury is expected to sideline the 24-year-old for several weeks, potentially ending his season prematurely.

Chevalier, who joined Paris Saint-Germain last summer for €50 million from Lille OSC, was initially brought in to replace Gianluigi Donnarumma, who departed for Manchester City. However, his performances were deemed disappointing, leading to him losing his starting spot in January. He has since been the second-choice goalkeeper for coach Luis Enrique, with Matvey Safonov preferred, and was on the bench for the Champions League semi-final against Bayern München just a day before his injury.

The severity of the injury puts Chevalier's World Cup aspirations in serious jeopardy. Despite his lack of regular playing time at Paris Saint-Germain, the French international had remained part of Didier Deschamps' national squad during the most recent international break. His recovery timeline now becomes a critical factor in whether he can regain fitness in time for the prestigious tournament.

This unfortunate news opens the door for other French goalkeepers vying for a spot in Didier Deschamps' World Cup squad. AC Milan's Mike Maignan is widely expected to be France's primary choice, with Brice Samba of Stade Rennes also strongly positioned for selection. Veteran Hugo Lloris, 39, currently with LAFC, recently expressed his desire to be considered as a third-choice option.

Furthermore, the injury to Lucas Chevalier could provide an opportunity for younger talents like Guillaume Restes from Toulouse or experienced Premier League keeper Alphonse Areola of West Ham United to impress Didier Deschamps and secure a place among the three goalkeepers for the national team's World Cup campaign. The competition for the coveted spots is now intensified.