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Arbeloa rips France: This happens when you leave Benzema at home

GERARD JULIEN / AFP / Getty

Alvaro Arbeloa was tiptoeing between allegiances after Portugal defeated France to capture the European Championship on Sunday.

Related: Eder the unlikely hero as Portugal stuns France to win Euro 2016

The longtime Real Madrid right-back, now a free agent, tweeted his consternation at France's decision to to leave former teammate Karim Benzema out of the side, presumably suggesting that Les Bleus would have won the competition with his services leading the line.

"That's what happens when you leave the best No. 9 in the world at home," Arbeloa tweeted after the match, which saw Eder fire home the only goal in the 109th minute.

Benzema was left out of the side due to his involvement in a blackmail scandal that targeted Mathieu Valbuena with the threat of releasing a sex tape featuring the diminutive Frenchman.

Arbeloa, however, made a point in the same tweet to highlight his happiness with the accomplishments of Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe, another pair of former Real Madrid peers.

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