Didier Deschamps on Karim Benzema: "He knows how to thank me"

INTERVIEW

It is a choice that has caused much ink to flow since May 18, the day Didier Deschamps mentioned the name of Karim Benzema in an announcement calling for the French team, for the first time since the fall of 2015. In selecting the Real Madrid striker for Euro 2020, "DD" triggered a hype rarely seen around the Blues, who have yet experienced the fiasco of Knysna, the disillusionment of Euro 2016 and the coronation of the 2018 World Cup in their recent history.

Exceptional guest of the morning of Europe 1, Monday morning, the coach returns to a decision commented by an entire country.

"I didn't expect anything from Benzema"

"Obviously I knew very well, by taking this decision, that it was going to make some noise", analyzes Didier Deschamps three weeks after the announcement of his list.

"I realized it just after. But hey, since I've been here [at Clairefontaine, editor's note] with my players, I've been in self-sufficiency."

An autarky which allows the French selection to get away from media attention engulfed by the question of the return of "KB9" to the Blues.

>> Find the morning show of the day in replay and podcast here

In a press conference, before the first preparation match, Karim Benzema thanked Didier Deschamps for this selection in the list of the Blues.

Were these thanks enough for Didier Deschamps?

"I don't know how many times I've been asked the question 'but are you waiting for a public apology?'

I was not expecting anything ", explains the coach of the Blues today.

"He knows very well how to 'thank' me in the best possible way. There is only one truth, it is that of the field", continues the double world champion.

"No commotion to fight"

However, Didier Deschamps is also keen not to put excessive pressure on the shoulders of the Madrilenian, author of an excellent season with the Merengue. "There is obviously an expectation and it necessarily takes up a lot of space today, in the media," concedes the guest from Europe 1. "But he will not be able to do everything alone."

On the contrary: Karim Benzema must now find his marks in a collective of 26 players, several of which have been there for several years without interruption, such as Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann or Raphaël Varane. For the coach, the integration of Benzema into the France group remains "a non-event". "It happens naturally from what he does, what he is and compared to the other players who know him. He's in a group that has worked well and has his habits. He is not there for get the fight started. (…) If I come to a decision like this, it's because for me, we can't even talk about risk. problem." The assurance of a collective osmosis, pledge of a beautiful tricolor course at theEuro?