For the first time since 2015, forward Karim Benzema is returning to the French national team. Coach Didier Deschamps included the 33-year-old support of Real Madrid in the 26-member nomination for the European Championships.
The native of Lyon presented himself at the European Championships 2008 and 2012. In 81 matches in the jersey “Les Bleus” he scored 27 goals. The last duel for the national team took place in October 2015. In November of the same year, he was accused of conspiracy and involvement in organized crime.
According to the then teammate from the national team Mathieu Valbuena, Benzema tried to persuade him to meet the men who were blackmailing Lyon’s midfielder over a sex video shot on a mobile phone. Since then, Benzema has been missing from the national team, which has lost silver from the domestic Euro 2016 and gold from the World Cup in Russia two years later.
Among the 26 nominees are goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris, midfielder Paul Pogba and attackers Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, coaches can nominate 26 championships for the championship instead of the usual 23 players. However, it is still true that a maximum of 23 footballers can be selected for individual matches of the European Championships, which will also be attended by the Czech national team.
The euro was supposed to take place last summer, but was postponed for a year due to the covid-19. It will be played in eleven cities in eleven countries from June 11. France will play in Germany’s strongest Group F with Germany in Munich and in Budapest with Hungary and Portugal, which it lost five years ago to the European Championship in the Paris finals.
Preparatory duels with Wales and Bulgaria await Deschamps’ selection before the start of the tournament.
Nomination of France for the European Football Championship (June 11 – July 11):
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Mike Maignan (Lille), Steve Mandanda (Marseille).
Defenders: Lucas Hernández, Benjamin Pavard (oba Bayern Mnichov), Lucas Digne (Everton), Léo Dubois (Lyon), Jules Koundé (Sevilla), Clément Lenglet (Barcelona), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea).
Midfielders: N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Mnichov).
Attackers: Wissam Ben Yedder (Monako), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Mnichov), Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona), Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Thomas Lemar (Atlético Madrid), Kylian Mbappé (PSG ), Marcus Thuram (Mönchengladbach).
–
