Why was Benzema dropped?
Ahead of Euro 2016, it was publicly announced by the France Football Federation that Benzema would not be selected by Deschamps due to his alleged involvement in a plot to blackmail then-international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.
It is alleged that Benzema, after being approached by a childhood friend, encouraged Valbuena to pay blackmailers who threatened to expose a video of Valbuena having sex. Valbuena instead went to the police.
The issue divided France and when the story broke, then-Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Benzema had “no place” in the national team.
In an interview with Spanish outlet Marca in June 2016, Benzema said Deschamps had “bowed to the pressure of a racist part of France”. Deschamps then said he would “never forget” the striker’s comments.
Benzema is due to stand trial in October. He denies any wrongdoing.
What is his record with France?
Benzema was first capped by France in 2007, and was a part of France’s disappointing Euro 2008 squad that were eliminated in the group stage.
He failed to make the squad for the 2010 World Cup but returned to the fold under Laurent Blanc at Euro 2012.
Benzema made his World Cup debut in Brazil in 2014 and was a part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals.
As he was not selected at the 2018 World Cup, Benzema has yet to win a title with France but does have a reasonable scoring record with 27 goals in 81 appearances — an average of a goal every three matches.
How good has he been this year?
Benzema has been enjoying a fine campaign for Real Madrid, with 22 goals and eight assists in 32 league matches.
After losing Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez last summer and not bringing in any new faces in, it was expected that Madrid would struggle this campaign. Led by Benzema, they have taken the La Liga title race down to the final gameweek and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Benzema’s link-up play this season has been exceptional and would surely translate well to the international stage, should he be selected alongside Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann in France’s forward line.
What is the full squad?
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham, Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Mike Maignan (Lille);
Defenders: Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Leo Dubois (France), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Lucas Digne (Everton), Clement Lenglet (Barcelona), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea);
Midfielders: N’golo Kante (Chelsea), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Adrien Rabiot (Paris Saint-Germain), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham);
Attackers: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain, Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona), Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona).
(Photo: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
