Official: Benzema returns with France for the European Championship

L’Equipe had announced it this Tuesday morning and it was something that seemed like a utopia, but after six years of absence, Karim Benzema has returned to a call-up of the French team. The Real Madrid striker has been called up by Didier Deschamps for the dispute of the next European Championship, settling a controversy that dates back to 2015.

Benzema, who had not been called up with France from a list in October 2015, playing his last match against Armenia on October 8 of that year, has been awarded by Deschamps after an extraordinary season for the Real Madrid player in which he has scored 29 goals in 45 games in all competitions.

The main reason for Benzema's absences from Deschamps' plans had been the 'sextape' he starred in with Mathieu Valbuena in 2015. The current Olympiacos player accused Benzema of being an accomplice in a crime of blackmail and, after many years of controversy , the French Prosecutor's Office confirmed that the trial will take place in October.

The call of Karim Benzema is one of the biggest surprises in recent years, if not the most. Deschamps had been dodging the questions of why he was not calling up the former Lyon player for many years and, after endless obstacles, the French coach has reconsidered and has decided to call the best French striker of today with the permission of Kylian Mbappé.

From the rest of the list, noteworthy is the first call for Jules Koundé. The central defender of Sevilla aimed to be a starter in the Eurocup Sub 21, but its explosion in 2021 have caused it to finally enter a Eurocup list for the first time.

The complete list

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda, Mike Maignan

Defenses: Benjamin Pavard, Raphäel Varane, Léo Dubois, Presnel Kimpembe, Kurt Zouma, Jules Koundé, Lucas Hernández, Lucas Digne, Clement Lenglet.

Midfielders: Paul Pogba, Ngolo Kanté, Adrien Rabiot, Moussa Sissoko, Tolisso, Lemar

Forwards: Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Kingsley Coman, Marcus Thuram, Olivier Giroud, Wissam Ben Yedder, Ousmane Démbéle.