The symbol of Karim Benzema's tortured relationship with the French public dates from summer 2010. Sportingly humiliated during the World Cup in South Africa, the players of the France team add a surreal episode of a strike of training.
With Karim Benzema?
Absolutely not since the striker, at Real Madrid for a season, was not selected by Raymond Domenech.
But in the collective imagination, the native of Bron (Rhône) will long remain associated with this fiasco, often because of comments from the political class.
Read also Goals, records, a title in sight ... with Real, Benzema is exceptional
The reason is in another news item.
That same summer, Karim Benzema and Franck Ribéry, who was indeed in South Africa, are indicted for "solicitation of a minor prostitute", suspected of having had recourse to a paid relationship with Zahia Dehar.
It was not until January 2014 that the two stars of the France team were released.
A period during which the Blues live difficult moments on the sporting level, with Karim Benzema this time, always summoned since the appointment of Laurent Blanc (2010-2012) or Didier Deschamps (2012-in progress) at the head of the Blues.
At Real Madrid, number 9 asserts itself under the orders of José Mourinho or Carlo Ancelotti.
He grew up, both on and off the field, where he managed to make people forget his mistakes of his youth (car accident).
But with the French jersey, he flounders.
Between June 5, 2012 and October 11, 2013, the former Lyonnais signed a record with 1,222 minutes (15 appearances) without scoring a single goal.
The debates about his presence never end, but Didier Deschamps maintains unfailing confidence in him and takes him to the World Cup in Brazil, the only one for Benzema.
In the country of Ronaldo, his idol, he plays every minute and scores 3 goals, while the course of the Blues ends in the quarter-finals against Germany.
Benzema's origins and religion singled out by part of the public
Until his last selection to date, on October 8, 2015 against Armenia (4-0, 2 goals), Benzema continued his course in blue. Not without questions related to its ratio (81 selections, 27 goals, 0.33 goals per game), creating permanent opposition with Olivier Giroud. And then, stupor. A few days after this final appearance, the “sextape” affair was born. Several men, including Karim Benzema, are suspected of "attempted blackmail" on Mathieu Valbuena. In November, the striker of Real is indicted in this case and, in December, it becomes undesirable in blue, "until the situation evolves", according to the words of the president of the FFF Noël Le Graët. For this file, he was sent back to correctional services on January 7.
As in the Zahia affair, the origins and religion of Benzema are singled out by part of the French public, in a country tense by questions of identity. Taken by the anger of his non-selection for Euro 2016, he comes to declare during an interview with Marca that Didier Didier Deschamps had "yielded to a racist part of France". Unpardonable words for the coach, who will never call Benzema again. Until May 18, 2021 therefore. The 33-year-old vice-captain of Real Madrid, "KB9" flies on the grounds of La Liga and Europe. Its state of form is undeniable. What to extinguish the debates? Response after the Euro.