Yeah it's really weird. Never caused a stir at Madrid but he can't go a complete year for France without causing mayhem.
Oh @awop and @Oly Francis, thanks for the explanation.
Benzema back in France squad for the Euros, as per reports…..
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Oh @awop and @Oly Francis, thanks for the explanation.
He's had a lot of injury issues this season for Real Madrid, so I'm guessing he did get injured.
After the whole blackmail thing, he should never have been selected again.
As far as I can see people are trying to create drama that isn't there.
Yes he’ll get his medal like Lucas Hernandez (who played the first 10 minutes though), since they chose to keep him on the list…
He helped them qualify for the WC scoring a few goals along the way. He was also a very decisive and important player when they won the Nations League which undeniably helped the newcomers (Théo and Tchouaméni..) integrate in this team and learn to win big games…. His contribution to this generation is of course nowhere near Griezmann but since his return in 2021 he did his part when he was given the chance and has been a positive addition on the field at least.
...Wait Benzema won the Ballon d'Or ?
My interest in this sport is at a all-time low.
My interest in this sport is at a all-time low.
Drama is there. Benzema refusing to join the team for the final saying that he's "not interested", reposting a picture of him, a friend and his ballon d'or that say they "already won", dragging Zidane into the whole thing, Dembele asked about it at a press conference and obviously really embarassed by the question etc.
Is it blown out of proportion? Maybe but it was clearly not made up.
Benzema > France.
Most of what you wrote isn't even factual, you are sharing a theory based on an instagram picture, that has no context. No one knows what the instagram picture is about, no one knows the context and it doesn't concerns anyone. It's just a case of people doing two things, making up stories and trying to get involved in other people's business.
Yeah, right, the fact that everything unfolded within a couple of hours after it was known Zidane wouldn't join the french delegation is totally random, as if Benzema didn't have the nasty habit of settling his issues on social network.
Bless you if you think it's totally unrelated. Oh and by the way, it was "other people's business" up until the point when Benzema made it public.
"We already won... the end". What other type of win Benzema won't be a part of could he refer to? Uhmm, hard to say, would be easier to figure if there was some kind of world cup final tomorrow.
You're still taking one single interpretation of some cryptic SM posts as proof of stuff. All of this is possible (even probable), but at the same time it's so low-key that it's only drama because people are wanting it to be.Yeah, right, the fact that everything unfolded within a couple of hours after it was known Zidane wouldn't join the french delegation is totally random, as if Benzema didn't have the nasty habit of settling his issues on social network.
Bless you if you think it's totally unrelated. Oh and by the way, it was "other people's business" up until the point when Benzema made it public.
"We already won... the end"
Is there any explanation as to why Zizou isn't joining the French delegation?Yeah, right, the fact that everything unfolded within a couple of hours after it was known Zidane wouldn't join the french delegation is totally random, as if Benzema didn't have the nasty habit of settling his issues on social network.
Bless you if you think it's totally unrelated. Oh and by the way, it was "other people's business" up until the point when Benzema made it public.
"We already won... the end". What other type of win Benzema won't be a part of could he refer to? Uhmm, hard to say, would be easier to figure if there was some kind of world cup final tomorrow.
One social media post is an interpretation. When you add the Zidane post after he said he wouldn't come and Benzema's post saying he is "not interested" after it wa known he was offered a spot in the french delegation to go to the final, it seems that there's pretty high chance it's not random. Especially when it occurs within a couple of hours.
It's not low key, it's the fricking ballon d'or who should currently play with the team that reached a WC final, how do you make that low key?
It's not a question of being related or not but that there is no drama. It could easily be a response to someone around him regarding a conversation that doesn't concern us. And regarding Zidane, the source that I have seen was the Mundo Deportivo and there is nothing special about it, Zidane was allegedly invited by the FFF as a special guest and he declined allegedly because he doesn't want to take the limelight away from the team and Deschamps, they also add that he has already agreed to be the next manager. You noticed that we don't know if any of that is true and we don't even know if Zidane or Deschamps will manage the team after the World Cup.Yeah, right, the fact that everything unfolded within a couple of hours after it was known Zidane wouldn't join the french delegation is totally random, as if Benzema didn't have the nasty habit of settling his issues on social network.
Bless you if you think it's totally unrelated. Oh and by the way, it was "other people's business" up until the point when Benzema made it public.
"We already won... the end". What other type of win Benzema won't be a part of could he refer to? Uhmm, hard to say, would be easier to figure if there was some kind of world cup final tomorrow.
But the point being that there is nothing worthy of drama, there are journalists that asked questions about Benzema and Deschamps responding that he was focused on the 24 players at his disposal and that the questions should be about them, which is totally fair and not a dramatic answer but somehow people want to twist it into something else.
Not really, we can think it's a combination of :
- him unhappy of the way Benzema was treated (they are very close), which could explain why Benzema posted the following picture
- him unhappy that the president of the french federation wants to keep Deschamps as long as possible when the whole world knows Zidane wants to coach France
Well he's not in or anywhere near the squad so it's rather irrelevant as long as people are not harassing actual squad protagonists with it. Which will of course happen in the coming hours as french journalists (as in any other nation) love nothing more than undermining their own team with pointless controversies then complain about those controversies existing.
Exactly, the ability to turn nothing into something is amazing.
We know it's going to be Deschamps if he wants to. Le Graet made it very clear 10 days ago.
It already started and according to the accent, I highly doubt it was a french journalist
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I know that he did but the same papers that started this drama somehow don't know it.
Oddly, it seems to have galvanised them. I sure as feck would want to win it and stick two fingers up at him.
Thanks for the info. You'd wonder if the FFF made certain promises to Zidane that aren't being kept regarding the managerial position. Or even if Deschamps privately told Zidane that he was going to step down after the WC and he is has now changed his mind. It does seem messy.Not really, we can think it's a combination of :
- him unhappy of the way Benzema was treated (they are very close), which could explain why Benzema posted the following picture
- him unhappy that the president of the french federation wants to keep Deschamps as long as possible when the whole world knows Zidane wants to coach France
I'm not sure, Le Graet (president of FFF) always showed a lot of support for Deschamps. He said clearly a while back that he set his goal to a WC semi final (that France obvioously reached). At least in public, he never hinted he wanted to replace him with Zidane. Also, it's well known Deschamps and Zidane aren't huge friends so I doubt he told him anything about his future.
This guy seems to be one of Benzema’s agents/advisors.
I remind some that tomorrow France is playing a CDM final, you have to be behind all the players who will be on the field to bring us a 3rd star and leave alone @Benzema who will be more than ever behind the blues to offer him the missing title ️
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I remind some that tomorrow France is playing a CDM final, you have to be behind all the players who will be on the field to bring us a 3rd star and leave alone @Benzema who will be more than ever behind the blues to offer him the missing title ️
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WC 2010 ? Benzema's name is associated to the Knysna debacle (even though he wasnt in the squad)
Euro 2012? Benzema (amongst others, Nasri mainly too) is accused of being a thug who doesnt respect France and the French shirt
Euro 2021 ? Benzema is accused of destroying the team cohesion even though he was the best player and France went out on a 10 minutes collapse blowing a 3-1 lead
World Cup 2022 ? Run it back with the usual scapegoating on the most watched news channel
Euro 2012? Benzema (amongst others, Nasri mainly too) is accused of being a thug who doesnt respect France and the French shirt
Euro 2021 ? Benzema is accused of destroying the team cohesion even though he was the best player and France went out on a 10 minutes collapse blowing a 3-1 lead
World Cup 2022 ? Run it back with the usual scapegoating on the most watched news channel
Giroud was pretty underwhelming in the knockout stage apart from the two goals he scored. If they had Benzema yesterday, they might have also lost but Mbappe at least wouldn't have been out of the game for so long. This had been a problem in the previous two games too.
The Argentinian defenders wouldn't simply have known how to deal with both Mbappe and Benzema.
The Argentinian defenders wouldn't simply have known how to deal with both Mbappe and Benzema.
Aguero > Benzema 
All the stuff about how team spirit and chemistry were so much better without him was pretty funny after those first 70ish minutes in which French players didn't even seem to know each other.
Benzema was always an incredibly unlikeable character from what we know of him. Amazing footballer though. Not sure if France missed him though. I always felt that Giroud was a better fit and that Deschamps France was performing better without him. He has 1-2 seasons left in him at the most IMO. France has an insane talent pool to chose from by the time the EUROS begin (2024) and for the foreseeable future. He has been a non-factor for France as well.
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Well, he's retired from international football.
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Thought it was weird him just posting birthday posts non stop a day after his teammates lose a WC final. Definitely some issues with Deschamps going on.
Lots of French fans also say this, but if Giroud is a better fit, that's on the coach. Benzema has shown at Real how good he can be when accommodating a goalscoring winger. And whatever Giroud gets praise for - hold up, passing - Benzema can do at a higher level. Slightly weaker on headers (but not bad at all) and a world-class finisher, unlike Giroud.
e - I think France were the best attacking team by far at the Euros with Benzema in and playing very well, they were undone by defensive panic.
The issue with this "Benzema problem player" narrative is that it doesn't really make Deschamps look good. Come on, the guy's been in charge of France for many years. If there is a problem player he should have the authority to get rid of them, not use a convenient injury in the eve of the competition as an excuse.
So you guys are still trying to create drama for no good reason?
Not really. Just discussing his international retirement.So you guys are still trying to create drama for no good reason?
Unfortunately his international career never reached the heights of his club career.
That's not what you did(before the edit of your initial post) or what the others are doing.
I'm sure Benzema will get over it.
Did he outright retire?
Could have had a last hurray come euro 2024.
Could have had a last hurray come euro 2024.
Retiring from international and joining United for one year is not so far away.