Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been recalled into France’s squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 Championships after a long wait of six years.
Benzema hasn’t played for France since 2015. He had been suspected with an alleged involvement in an attempted blackmailing of Mathieu Valbuena.
As a result, Benzema was kept out of France’s Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup Squad as a result of the allegations.
French prosecutors also announced earlier this year that Benzema will face a trial.
The 33-year-old has been accused of paying some individuals to extort money from midfielder Mathieu Valbuena back in 2015, by making a sex-tape public. However, Benzema has said that a dishonest police officer dragged him into this mess.
“The most important is today and tomorrow,” France head coach Didier Deschamps said after naming Benzema I the squad.
“There were important steps. We saw each other. We discussed it at length. I had a long reflection to come to this decision. I won’t reveal a word of the discussion that concerns us. I needed it, he needed it “.
Benzema has made 81 appearances for France and has netted a total of 27 goals. He scored twice in his last international appearance — in a friendly against Armenia that resulted in a 4-0 win.
He has been in great form for Real Madrid this season, having scored a total of 29 goals and assisted eight times across all competitions.
Benzema was also voted as the best French player playing abroad by France’s National Union of Professional Football Players this season.
France made it to the final of the tournament in 2016 but lost out to Portugal. Now they go into this competition as the World Champions, though. And they would like to play like one.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Mike Maignan (Losc), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Everton), Leo Dubois (Lyon), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Jules Kounde (Sevilla), Clement Lenglet (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea)
Midfielders: N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach)
