Benzema returns to the French national team after a 5-year absence
French striker Karim Benzema has returned from exile after national team coach Didier Deschamps summoned him to the list of participants in the European Football Cup 2020 scheduled for next summer and postponed from last year due to the Corona virus, five and a half years after he played his 81st international match against Armenia in October 2015, where he scored twice, raising his number of international goals to 27.
Hours before the former international midfielder and current France coach announced his list on Tuesday, the following question was raised: Has the difference between the French striker and the "roosters" team ended? Before doubt turns into certainty, with the confirmation of Benzema's return to defend his country's national team in the European Cup finals scheduled from June 11 to July 11 next. The 33-year-old Frenchman had found himself outside the national team since the scandal of the sex tape of his compatriot Matthew Valbuena appeared at the end of 2015, and exposed the role of the extortionist Real Madrid striker in this process after the former Marseille and Lyon player and the current Greek Olympiacos player threatened not to publish the contents of the video. In the media, in exchange for paying a friend.
Benzema's hopes of returning to wearing his country's shirt seemed to have disappeared permanently, when the French public prosecutor announced last January the decision to try him with four others.
Deschamps explained his decision, "In order to reach this decision, we went through stages. We met together and chatted for a long time," adding, "I do not want to create special cases. I have always ignored my personal interest, and the French national team is not mine and it is above all."
After the meeting that brought them together in Madrid, Deschamps said that he had "thought a long time to reach this decision. I will not express any word about what happened between us, but he needed it, and me too."
On the other hand, Benzema wrote on his Twitter page that he feels "proud of this return to the French national team and the confidence they have given me," adding, "Thank you to my family, my friends, the club and you ... and to everyone who has always supported me and gives me strength daily."
Benzema paid dearly for his action, so he missed the European Cup hosted by his country and lost in the final to Portugal 0-1, and then crowned the World Cup in Russia 2018. Benzema said before the football wedding in Russia, "As long as Didier Deschamps remains as coach, I will not get a chance to return to the French national team." ".
In the same context, his compatriot and Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was surprised that his colleague and former France captain (they won the 1998 World Cup and Europe 2000 together) overlooked Benzema.
"How can you understand that? I do not understand what is happening, you do not understand, there are many people who do not understand," he said.
With UEFA’s decision to allow 26 players to be called up from 23 to the European Cup finals, and in conjunction with Benzema’s impressive performance with Real, Deschamps got an opportunity to change his mind.
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