The rush of emotion could well overwhelm him on June 2, at the Allianz Riviera in Nice, where France will play their first preparation match for the Euro, against Wales. Karim Benzema, if he is recalled by Didier Deschamps as announced by various media, would play his first match with the jersey struck with the rooster since October 8, 2015. It was at… the Allianz Riviera already. A friendly meeting against Armenia after all trivial. Qualified automatically for Euro 2016 as the host country, France has spent almost two years playing preparation matches. We could already imagine Benzema combining with his attacking friends, Antoine Griezmann and Mathieu Valbuena, the following summer at home. Neither Benzema nor Valbuena, the main protagonists of the “sextape affair”, will be on the journey.All the more frustrating for Benzema as this last match could not be more successful.
“I heard that I was not happy, that I did not want to come to the France team.
So that is wrong ”
Karim Benzema in October 2015
It was after asking the Real Madrid striker for a school one-two that Griezmann opened the scoring, making the Nice public exult (35th).
Served by Valbuena at 16 meters, Yohan Cabaye made the break with a nice right foot strike near the post, shortly after halftime (55th).
Then Benzema awoke.
He took a perfect header from a corner taken by Griezmann (78th).
Almost on the Armenian kickoff, France recovered the ball.
Anthony Martial launched Benzema with a subtle heel.
Full axis, the native of Lyon went to win his duel against goalkeeper Gevorg Kasparov (79th).
4-0 victory without trembling, and a sigh of relief for Benzema.
Benzema was 27 years old in 2015… He is 33 today in 2021
The Madrid striker had not scored for 6 matches, a period during which he wore the captain's armband for the only time in his career in blue (March 26, 2015 against Brazil, defeat 3-1).
“For a striker, it always feels good (to score), but I don't stop at goals.
Me, it's more what I can bring on the field, the calls for the ball, the understanding with the teammates, ”commented Benzema, then 27 years old.
He has 33 today.
Legend Karim Benzema at Real Madrid
These teammates, they were called Lassana Diarra, Mamadou Sakho or Patrice Evra, proof that this match does not date from yesterday.
But they were also called Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane or Olivier Giroud, 3 men who appear in the list of 26 for the Euro.
At the end of the meeting, the Madrilenian had, as often, reassured public opinion about his love for the Blues.
“I heard that I was not happy, that I did not want to come to the France team.
So that's wrong, he let loose, jaw clenched.
I am happy when I come in selection, and I want to win titles with this selection. ”
It may be, finally, for the summer of 2021.
France 4-0 Armenia
France
: Griezmann (35th), Cabaye (55th), Benzema (78th, 79th)
France: Lloris (c) - Evra, Sakho, Varane, Sagna - Cabaye, L. Diarra, Matuidi - Griezmann, Benzema, Valbuena
Armenia: Kasparov - Hayrapetyan, Andonian, Voskanyan, Hambardzumyan - Yuspashyan, Mkrtchyan - Ghazaryan, Mkhitaryan (c), Hovhannisyan - Sarkisov
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