“Pardoned.
This morning, the front page of the sports daily AS summarizes the general opinion of Madrilenians on the return of Karim Benzema to the French team.
The end of a sporting aberration mixed with relief and a little feeling of victory.
Because for years, no one in Madrid understood how Didier Deschamps could do without the talent of the Real striker and everyone was campaigning for the end of his banishment.
"A crime against football", even claimed the daily Marca three weeks ago, after his performance in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League.
In mid-March, it was his club trainer, Zinédine Zidane, who was surprised at his too long absence from the selection: “How can we understand it?
I don't understand it and a lot of people don't understand it.
"He, who the previous season had already said:" He is the best striker in the world.
So yes, he has his place in the France team.
Footballistically, there is no picture.
"
🌞 ¡Buenos días!
📰 La portada de hoy: 'Indultado'. # PortadaAS pic.twitter.com/CkACYpjEgy
- AS Fotografía (@FotografiAS_AS) May 19, 2021
All day Tuesday, the possible return of Benzema to the selection therefore made the headlines of the Spanish media and was followed sparingly.
Triggering a totally unexpected expectation and excitement.
The sports daily AS going so far as to set up a continuous information feed on its website, relaying everything that directly or indirectly touched on the event.
Including a tweet from Rachida Dati.
After the formalization made by Deschamps, Marca did not hesitate to tweet: “Today finally ends one of the most incomprehensible decisions on the part of a coach.
"
"Sports justice has finally spoken"
A resurrection which in any case delights the supporters of Real. “This is wonderful news for football lovers and for the Euro which will have more sparkle with Benzema, enthuses Fernando. Sports justice has finally spoken. Finally, France has stopped being blind with the best French player in the world. It had become an aberration and a ridiculous obstinacy not to summon him again. I am very happy for him. It will boost it like never before and give it a second youth. "
A joy shared by David, another Merengue supporter: “It's a very good decision and it is deserved for Benzema. Deschamps finally realized his mistake. How could he have deprived himself of his talent for so long? We here, every weekend, we see that it is the best of Real by far. It would have been a crime not to take him for the Euro. If it were up to me, he would have been naturalized Spanish for a long time! "
Happy for their striker, the Madrid supporters are, on the other hand, much less so for their national team in anticipation of the Euro. "As a supporter of La Roja, this is terrible news," laments Fernando. France was already very strong but now with Benzema, it is a scarecrow. With him, they have a weirdo attack. Without a doubt the best in the world. France are clearly favorites for the Euro and Benzema's return really doesn't make me laugh about Spain's chances of winning. An attacking trio Mbappé-Griezmann-Benzema which enchants and makes the Spaniards salivate, as much as it frightens them. And that they have already named the MGB.
