The media and sports bomb of the year.
For a total explosion that no one had seen coming.
Placardized and ostracized from the France team for more than five and a half years for extra-sporting reasons, Karim Benzema (33 years old, 81 caps, 27 goals) is making a resounding return to the world champions after the list unveiled this Tuesday evening by Didier Deschamps for Euro 2020 (June 11-July 11).
The boss of the French selection has succeeded perfectly to surprise everyone during the high mass of the 20 hours of
TF1
and on
M6
.
The two channels, official co-broadcasters of the Blues, will not fail to thank Deschamps, genius of the teaser after a day as crazy as it was unexpected.
The 26 Blues have an appointment on May 26 at Clairefontaine, with the June 15 poster in sight against Germany at the opening of their European Championship.
The forgiveness of Deschamps
Impossible to think of such a scenario there are still forty-eight hours, but the coach of the Blues had knowingly prepared his shot, in the greatest discretion, at a time when everything is known, flight and takes on substantial proportions. He would even have made the trip to Madrid a few days ago to meet Karim Benzema. For a master stroke? As always in such a situation, between theory and practice there is often a world that only the truth of the ground will come to consolidate or not. Often described as pragmatic, Didier Deschamps, with this confusing choice, continues to be faithful to his reputation, while nothing foreshadowed such an outcome, forgiveness slung on the shoulder. As was the case, to a lesser extent, with Adrien Rabiot, André-Pierre Gignac or even Hatem Ben Arfa in recent years.The Basque is stubborn ... but not that stubborn. If he validated the return of the Madrid striker (29 goals and 8 assists this season, 45 matches), expected at the court of Versailles in October in the so-called sextape case, it is also because of the absence of playing time for Olivier Giroud at Chelsea and the disappointing season for Antoine Griezmann at Barcelona. The second best scorer in the history of the Blues turns out to be the big loser of this choice which condemned the Mancunien Anthony Martial in the list.it's also because of Olivier Giroud's lack of playing time at Chelsea and Antoine Griezmann's disappointing season at Barcelona. The second best scorer in the history of the Blues turns out to be the big loser of this choice which condemned the Mancunien Anthony Martial in the list.it's also because of Olivier Giroud's lack of playing time at Chelsea and Antoine Griezmann's disappointing season at Barcelona. The second best scorer in the history of the Blues turns out to be the big loser of this choice which condemned the Mancunien Anthony Martial in the list.
Benzema's presence changes everything
Questions remain unanswered.
Why not have recalled the former Lyonnais earlier and wait so close to the Euro to turn everything upside down?
Because this is what it is today.
Karim Benzema, from the height of his twelve seasons at Real Madrid and his four Champions Leagues, will change everything in the tranquil and well-established landscape of the world champions.
Do not count on him to play the foil at Clairefontaine and in the ranks of the France team.
For the best or for the worst.
A fine strategist, Deschamps is aware of this but has decided to take the risk with the firm intention of benefiting, on paper, from a line of attack against the Euro.
Cheeky.
More info to follow
...
The 26 Blues for Euro 2020 (June 11-July 11)
Goalkeepers: Lloris (Tottenham), Mandanda (Marseille), Maignan (Lille)
Defenders: Pavard (Bayern), Varane (Real), Kimpembe (PSG), L. Hernandez (Bayern), Digne (Everton), Dubois (Lyon), Koundé (Seville), Lenglet (Barcelona), Zouma (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Kanté (Chelsea), Pogba (Manchester United), Lemar (Atlético), Rabiot (Juventus), Sissoko (Tottenham), Tolisso (Bayern)
Forwards: Ben Yedder (Monaco), Benzema (Real), Coman (Bayern), Dembélé (Barcelona), Giroud (Chelsea), Griezmann (Barcelona), Mbappé (PSG), M. Thuram (M'Gladbach)
Read also
The full program of Euro 2020
