Benzema wants explanation for France omission
Karim Benzema was not named to Didier Deschamps' 24-man France squad for a pair of upcoming internationals, and the Real Madrid striker would like to know why.
It's been since 18 months since Benzema was charged for blackmailing former France teammate Mathieu Valbuena, and a few weeks short of a year since he was not selected for Les Bleus' Euro 2016 roster amid the investigation.
When Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Anthony Martial, and Andre Pierre Gignac were selected ahead of the Los Blancos goal-poacher in April 2016, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls cited the value of meritorious footballers, saying, "A great athlete should be exemplary. If he is not, he has no place in the France team. There are so many kids, so many youngsters in our suburbs that relate to great athletes. They wear the blue jersey, the colours of France, which are so important in these moments."
Benzema responded to his snub, telling Marca, "Deschamps folded due to pressure from France's racist element."
This time around, the Lyon-born striker wants answers.
"It's hard. Especially when playing in a big club like Madrid. There are only internationals, says the 29-year-old striker," Benzema told RMC Sport. "It's also hard because I love soccer, big games and we know that the national team is a very high level game."
"Considering what I have been doing in Madrid for eight years now, I think I have proved that I still have years in front of me for France. It's been a year and a half since I've been in the squad," the 29-year-old added.
The Euro 2016 snub wasn't Benzema's first brush with expulsion from a major tournament.
In 2010, Benzema was not included in Raymond Domenech's World Cup squad, with the manager highlighting his club form as the reason. At the same time, Benzema was investigated alongside Franck Ribery, Sidney Govou, and Hatem Ben Arfa for involvement in a Paris-based prostitution ring. Both Benzema and Ribery were cleared in 2014 on all charges of underage sex.
"Some say I do not like the France team. If that were the case, I would have said it directly to the manager because I am a big boy. But today, I find it unfair because I have no explanation," Benzema conceded Thursday.
With Griezmann and Giroud in the squad again, and with Gignac and Martial missing out, Deschamps has opted for a side rife with emerging talents. Taking advantage of France's seemingly growing talent incubator, the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar highlight an attacking side where 13 of the 24 selected are under the age of 25.
If the reason for Benzema's latest omission can be linked with Deschamps' youth movement, then the player with 27 goals in 81 Les Bleus appearances understands. If not, he wants to know why.
"I am a man and I would like to have explanations, and explain to me why they don't select me. I will keep in my head that if you do not select me for now, it is for football, it is that there are players who are better than me."