The query got here some 9 mins into the click convention after France had made their 2nd successive World Cup ultimate. “There’s a report today that said Karim Benzema could come back to Qatar…Is there any possibility you would use him for a few minutes,” Didier Deschamps was once requested deep within the Al Bayt Stadium. “I am not going to dignify that with a response. Next question, please,” he said.
Ahead of the final, the question was tweaked. Was Deschamps “surprised” that Benzema had played a friendly and would he “come here and support the group”? Sergio Aguero’s exuberance from the stands and in the Argentina changing room was still over 36 hours away but the question seemed valid because Benzema had been in Qatar until a thigh injury ruled him out one day before the World Cup began. Adopting the even tone he had after the 2-0 win against Morocco, Deschamps said: “It is not my job to invite current and former players here.”
One day after the final, Benzema retired from international football. “I wrote my story and ours is ending,” he said on Twitter after 97 games and 37 goals in a career blighted by a near six-year absence from the national team because of a blackmailing scandal. Since returning to the national team in 2021, Benzema had scored 10 goals in 16 games. A Nations League title is all he has to show for Le Bleus.
Deschamps didn’t replace Benzema, or Lucas Hernandez who as injured in their first game against Australia, but didn’t want him either.
It is the opposite at Real Madrid for whom on Thursday, Benzema scored his seventh goal in seven games in all competitions since the World Cup. It was his 336th goal in 624 games for the club. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (451) has more. Including five Champions League trophies, Benzema has won 23 competitions for Real and at 35, he is far from done.
On either side of Benzema’s goal were strikes from Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. He helped Real beat Atlético Madrid 3–1 in the Copa del Rey quarter-final at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Real trailing till the 79th minute meant it was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests – Antoine Griezmann and Memphis were denied by Real goalie, and former Atletico player, Thibaut Courtois and Griezmann also shot over from inside the penalty area– at least until Stefan Savic’s 99th minute red card for a second booking.
Alvaro Morata, a former Real player, had put the visiting team in front after an acrimonious build-up to the Madrid derby with an effigy of Vinicius Jr being slung from a bridge with an accompanying banner, “Madrid hates Real.” This was after Benzema had found Vinicius Jr but the Brazilian couldn’t shoot. When Vinicius Jr returned the compliment, Benzema’s shot was kept out by goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Rodrygo’s superb solo effort going past three players fetched the equalizer before Benzema struck at Oblak’s near post in the 103rd minute after Vinicius Jr miskicked Marco Asensio’s pass. Vinicius Jr’s smart placement in the 121st minute eventually made it a good evening for the men in white.
“Today, we had a very difficult game but with the character and the players that we have, we were able to turn it around,” Benzema told the Spanish television channel Teledeporte. “Suffering is not good – we have to score the goals earlier.”
Benzema had a stellar season in 2021-22 serving to Real win La Liga and the Champions League with 44 targets in 46 video games (or 3919 mins, in keeping with transfermarkt.com) and 15 assists. He was once the highest scorer in La Liga with 27 targets. It was once the fourth time in as many seasons that Benzema had notched up over 20 targets. And he was once the highest scorer within the Champions League the place he had 15 targets together with two knockout spherical hattricks towards Paris St-Germain and Chelsea.
“There’s no downside announcing we rely on Benzema…It’s a truth and a excellent factor. I’m glad to rely on a participant like him,” Real Madrid supervisor Carlo Ancelotti had mentioned of the present Ballon d’Or winner. The highest recommendation Rodrygo mentioned he won final time period was once to move the ball to Benzema. It got here from the Frenchman himself.
Benzema understands the sport like few forwards do, an unnamed La Liga supervisor was once quoted as announcing in The Guardian final yr. He can mix and create overloads, is technically adept, finishes smartly and makes teammates higher, the chief mentioned.
This time period, in spite of being out for 63 days because of accidents (transfermarkt.com), he has 13 targets and one help in 19 video games. Benzema has ignored seven video games in La Liga however with 9 targets (3 consequences) in 10 video games is 1/3 at the back of Robert Lewandowski (13) and Joselu (10). He may just lend a hand Real (41 issues) prolong their three-point lead over third-placed Real Sociedad on Sunday and stay the warmth on leaders Barcelona (44 issues).
Benzema is out of contract in the summertime at the side of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Asensio and Dani Ceballos, who helped flip the sport round on Thursday. It shall be not anything in need of a marvel if Real do not renew it for a yr like they do for gamers over 30 from when Bernabeu was once president (1943–78). Maybe they might even wreck custom for his or her skipper.