Karim Benzema, the beloved French striker, is truly an international sensation. After starting his career at Lyon in 2004, the now 35-year-old has cemented his legacy as one of the best strikers of his generation. In 2022, he lifted the UEFA Champions League as captain of Real Madrid, which subsequently led him to the coveted Balon d’Or.
But while the maverick striker is an iconic figure in the history of the most successful football club on the planet, his career for his country is a curious tale. Prior to his nation’s World Cup final showdown with Argentina getting underway on Sunday evening, ‘King Karim’ was in the headlines once again. He tweeted simply “I don’t care.”
Many had speculated that Benzema may have been fit and available for the final and that he may actually appear in the showpiece match. Then it was revealed that the Madrid marksman recovered from the injury which ruled him out of the World Cup in just three days. It was in fact manager Didier Deschamps’ decision to send Benzema home.
And some may say that decision was justified. Deschamps’ number one striker is Olivier Giroud, and he has been during his entire tenure in charge of Les Bleus. The former Arsenal striker led France to a second consecutive FIFA World Cup final, but one couldn’t help but wonder what the result may have been if Benzema started up top, alongside hat trick hero Kylian Mbappe.
Heading into the tournament, the French had been written off by many. A dismal UEFA Nations League campaign saw them lose home and away to Denmark and avoid relegation by just one point. Despite that, however, online sportsbook Bovada, where you can find soccer bet odds and outrights, had made Deschamps’ side one of the favourites to lift the famous gold trophy.
In the end, though, it was Lionel Messi who finally got his crowning moment.
A Strained Relationship
During his long and successful career, Benzema has scored a remarkable 410 club goals as well as 37 for France. His stats speak for themselves. In addition to this, the Frenchman has amassed a collection of impressive honours, the most notable being four La Liga titles and five UEFA Champions Leagues.
Benzema has been part of the French national team since 2007, and he looked like he would be their main man for years to come when he bagged twice at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. In recent years, however, his relationship with Didier Deschamps had become strained due to the latter’s decision to not include the striker in the 2018 World Cup squad. As we all remember, France went on to win that tournament while Benzema sat at home in Madrid.
Deschamps made a sensational U-turn last summer when he included the former Lyon man in his squad for the European Championships, his first international call-up in six years. And Benzema rewarded his manager’s decision with two goals in the tournament however, France crashed out in the second round after losing on penalties to Switzerland.
Real Madrid’s number nine continued to receive call-ups though and was crucial to his nation’s success in the 2021 UEFA Nations League final success.
But it appears that Benzema’s international career is now all but over. When comparing himself with Deschamps’ favoured striker Olivier Giroud, he once said that you “don’t compare Formula One with karting.” And maybe a Formula One car was exactly what France needed in the Lusail Iconic Stadium on Sunday night, despite Mbappe’s heroics.
The Greatest World Cup Final of All Time?
While Benzema was once again sat at home – reportedly mulling over an offer from Manchester United – his compatriots were featuring in football’s greatest game. Les Bleus faced off with Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final on December 18th, and the game will go down in history as one of the finest matches ever played.
It was La Albiceleste who raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of a Lionel Messi penalty and a brilliant sweeping move finished off by Angel Di Maria. As the game progressed, France simply had nothing to offer. They were outclassed in every department. But when you have the miraculous Kylian Mbappe on the pitch, anything is possible.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward slammed home two goals in 90 seconds to draw the French level when it looked as if they were dead and buried. The game would finish two apiece and head to extra time.
It looked as though Messi finally had his crowning moment when he gave his side the lead in the 108th minute. But back came France once again, with Mbappe netting from the penalty spot with just three minutes remaining to complete his hat trick.
A penalty shootout was required to determine a winner, and it was Argentine goalkeeper Emi Martinez who became the hero. He saved from Kinglsey Coman, while Aurélien Tchouaméni also missed the target, giving Argentina the famous gold trophy for the first time since the days of Maradona and cementing Messi’s legacy as the greatest of all time.
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