The last time Real Madrid striker played for the international team was back in October 2015, where he scored twice and led his team to a 4-0 against Armenia.
Karim Benzema and off-field controversies go hand in hand. The Sex-Tape scandal of November 2015 left a big mark on the striker’s career as he was overlooked by his manager at the national level, Didier Deschamps, after the former French Prime Minister had his say on the issue.
“A great athlete should be exemplary. If he is not, he has no place within the France team.”
then-PM Manuel Valls told French radio Europe 1.
Since then, Benzema has missed France’s Euro 2016 campaign and the 2018 World Cup campaign in which France beat Argentina in the finals to lift the trophy. However, earlier this year, the French Prosecutors announced that the striker would face a trial in October.
After scoring 29 goals and providing eight assists in all competition for Real Madrid this season, his performance was simply impossible to overlook. The 33-year-old was eventually included in the squad for the Euro’s, adding further depth upfront with Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud.
After this news broke out, Roxana Mărăcineanu, the former minister of sports of France said:
“I am sure that he will be an additional asset for France to shine at the Euro“.
Asked the details behind this decision, the French manager said that he had made his decision “a while ago” and that he had talked to Benzema.
“We have seen each other. We had a long discussion. After that, I had a long reflection to come to this decision. I’m not going to reveal a word of the discussion, it’s only our business. I needed it, he needed it,”
he explained.
The striker, who has scored 27 goals in 81 appearances for France, took to Twitter to convey his gratitude.
“So proud of this return to the France team and of the trust placed in me”, .
“Thank you to my family, my friends, my club… and to all those who have always supported me and give me strength every day.”
Benzema said on Twitter
Benzema is set to join Les Bleus and begin their Euro 2020 campaign against Germany on 15th June 2021.
