Double scorer Wednesday against Portugal, the Real Madrid striker reminded everyone that he was part of the very big class. Everything in control and confidence.
Kylian Mbappé was still on the ground, on the lawn of the Puskas Arena, when he grabbed the ball. Black eyes, tight jaw before the deliverance and this jump in front of the French kop. Author of a double, including the first goal from the penalty spot at the very end of the first half, Karim Benzema launched his Euro on Wednesday with a cold-blooded crime.
No one seemed able to stand in his way. Neither Portugal nor its partners. “We didn’t need to discuss on the pitch to know who takes the penalties, he said. There is no order to take them.” There was one: that of history to be reconnected, thread to resume with this blue jersey which occupies such a special place in the career of the kid from Bron.
Successes and eclipses
Called in March 2007 by Raymond Domenech when he was not even 20 years old, Benzema (86 caps) has since chained successes and eclipses. Now the 9th top scorer in the history of the Blues (29, to a realization of Papin), he has in the past had to deal with a disenchanted parenthesis of 1,222 minutes without scoring between June 2012 and October 2013. Until waiting 2,085 days before finally making the nets tremble again, this Wednesday, June 23, 2021.
“Everyone was waiting for this goal after six years of waiting,” he smiled. Despite this weight of responsibility, he did not flee, advancing alone in front of Rui Patricio, without trembling or giving the feeling of rethinking this failed attempt against Wales during the preparation. “I am a player who is used to having this pressure, he recalled. I have known it since I was little.”
Hermetic on the outside, Benzema has advanced during his career, including twelve years at Real Madrid, with this inner strength. His first professional match, in October 2005, he had punctuated it with an assist on his first ball. Before scoring for his baptism in Blue, a year and a half later. So many markers of an intimate belief that he has never given up on since. “I had complete confidence in myself,” said the 33-year-old striker again on Wednesday.
“I never give up”
However, the wind has blown hard around the former Lyonnais in recent weeks. Not spared since 2015 by the media and legal storm of the sextape case, the starting point of his non-selection in Blue, Benzema had returned to France on the purely sporting ground in May. But his lack of a goal in four starts had brought criticism and spades to the surface.
“I knew it very well when I came back to the selection. It’s part of football. But I never give up, I always want to score, to make others score. I train a lot, non-stop.”
His second goal, Wednesday, a perfect call followed by a very “Real” conclusion with this cross shot brought by the post, ended Benzema free. He also reinforced Didier Deschamps in his choice and his perseverance since the start of the Euro. “The main thing is that he keeps confidence and that he keeps my confidence,” assured the coach, after the complicated match of his striker against Hungary (1-1).
Less than a week later, the debate is not completely closed. Benzema’s understanding with the rest of the attacking line, Griezmann and Mbappé, and his propensity to come into the area of the first are still real matters. But with this double, the Madrilenian at least offered a respite with a promise. “When he goes to put one on,” Grizou “had announced, the tap will run.” Monday, France and Benzema find Switzerland. His last victim in an official tournament, during the 2014 World Cup, until Wednesday. A ready-made way to resume the course of its blue history.
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