Star striker Karim Benzema surprisingly returns to the French national football team after more than five and a half years.
National coach Didier Deschamps has nominated the 33-year-old forward starting Tuesday evening Real Madrid For the European Championship in June. The Equipe Tricolore squad includes five professionals from the Bundesliga: Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard, Corentin Tolisso, Kingsley Coman from Munich and Marcus Thuram from Gladbach.
Benzema, a four-time Champions League winner, who scored 29 goals for Real this season, completed his last 81st international match (27 goals) in the fall of 2015. Due to involvement in the case, Matteo Valbuena was blackmailed. It was initially suspended at the end of 2015 and is no longer seen last. His candidacy now comes completely unexpected.
“I think it is a wonderful decision, given his remarkable talent and accomplishments in the past few months,” said Federation President Noel Le Graet, who had previously confirmed Benzema’s career in selecting the national team.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210518-99-651486 / 2 (Dpa)