KARIM Benzema won everything in his club career, including the Ballon d’Or and five Champions League titles.
But this success has not been replicated for his national side — here we look at why the striker isn’t playing at Euro 2024.
AFPFrance coach Didier Deschamps greeting Karim Benzema after he was substituted against Germany at Euro 2020 in Munich on June 15, 2021[/caption]
Why is Karim Benzema not playing for France?
Benzema made his France debut in 2007 and was a regular up until 2015.
But he was banned from playing for Les Bleus for his alleged role in blackmailing team-mate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape scandal.
In November 2021, he was found guilty of complicity, sentenced to a one-year suspended jail term and fined 75,000 euros (£63,000) by a court in Versailles.
In the same year, the La Liga legend was named in France’s 26-man squad for the delayed European Championships.
And it paved the way for Benzema to return to the France team in June 2021 for the 3-0 win over Wales — going on to score four goals at the Euros.
The attacker played in subsequent Nations League and World Cup qualification matches.
But in November 2022 he was officially ruled out of the winter World Cup through injury.
Shortly after the final of the tournament, he announced his retirement from international football.
When did Karim Benzema retire from playing football?
Benzema announced his retirement from international football on December 19, 2022.
The former Real Madrid star made the cryptic reveal a day after France’s World Cup final loss to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Benzema was named in Didier Deschamps’ 26-man squad that looked to defend the World Cup in Qatar.
But a thigh injury ruled him out, although Deschamps never replaced the forward.
I have written my story and ours is ending
Karim Benzema
There were rumours that the striker was set to make a shock return to the French side in time for the final — having returned to Real Madrid training.
Deschamps dismissed these rumours angrily after being repeatedly asked about Benzema and where he’d be watching the final, saying: “Are you spreading the word among foreign journalists?
“If I don’t answer, you’ll say I’m p***ed off.
“Some players have been injured and Karim Benzema is one of them, and Lucas Hernandez got injured in the first game.
GettyBenzema warming up for Al Ittihad before the Fifa Club World Cup match against Al Ahly FC on December 15, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia[/caption]
“From that point on, I have 24 players in my squad and they are the ones at my disposal, so I don’t think it is fair to those players to ask about players who aren’t here.
“It is not up to me to decide who comes to watch the game, former players or injured players, I focus on my squad and the players at my disposal.
“We have lost three — Christopher Nkunku, Benzema and Hernandez. I lost them even though they were in the squad to begin with.
“So now I am focusing on my 24-man squad and they are the ones I will have at my disposal tomorrow.”
And Benzema also appeared to brutally rule himself out, posting on Instagram: “I don’t care.”
However, the prolific goalscorer did wish his nation luck on the final, which they lost on penalties.
Benzema’s future in the national side faced doubt after RMC Sport reported Benzema turned down president Emmanuel Macron’s invite to watch the game.
L’Equipe later added the player cut off all ties with the French squad after manager Deschamps refused to call him up.
How to watch Euro 2024
Both ITV and BBC will be showing matches, with the decision on who is hosting what games already decided for the group stages — you can see a list of the confirmed TV picks of remaining games for each broadcaster below:
All the games will also be available on BBC iPlayer and ITVX respectively.
22-Jun Georgia v Czech Republic 2pm BBC
22-Jun Turkey v Portugal 5pm ITV
22-Jun Belgium v Romania 8pm ITV
23-Jun Switzerland v Germany 8pm BBC
23-Jun Scotland v Hungary 8pm BBC
24-Jun Albania v Spain 8pm BBC
24-Jun Croatia v Italy 8pm BBC
25-Jun Netherland v Austria 5pm BBC
25-Jun France v Poland 5pm BBC
25-Jun England v Slovenia 8pm ITV
25-Jun Denmark v Serbia 8pm ITV
26-Jun Slovakia v Romania 5pm BBC
26-Jun Ukraine v Belgium 5pm BBC
26-Jun Georgia v Portugal 8pm ITV
26-Jun Czech Republic v Turkey 8pm ITV
TV for the knockout rounds of the tournament will be announced in due course.
What did Karim Benzema say about his retirement?
Following his retirement Benzema took to social media to set the record straight.
He tweeted: “I made the effort and the mistakes it took to be where I am today and I’m proud of it!
“I have written my story and ours is ending.”