Karim Benzema was forced to leave the field during the first-half of France’s clash with Bulgaria having picked up an injury.
Didier Deschamps made the eleventh-hour decision to draft Benzema into the squad for the Euro 2020 tournament, despite the Real Madrid forward not having featured for Les Bleus since 2015.
Benzema’s inclusion, with the 33-year-old on the back of one of the best seasons of his career in Madrid, would have given France’s hopes of winning the tournament a major boost.
However, while featuring in his country’s final warm-up fixture ahead of Euro 2020, Benzema hit the deck in visible discomfort. He was subsequently substituted and replaced by Olivier Giroud.
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Benzema asks to be subbed off due to an injury 😔 pic.twitter.com/CC4oLuNfoe
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 8, 2021
Pictures courtesy of ESPN
Olivier Giroud comes on for Karim Benzema. pic.twitter.com/giF0eWSEiJ
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) June 8, 2021
It would be wrong to speculate at this point in time just how serious the damage done to Benzema could be, but if he were to be ruled out of the tournament, it would be a considerable blow for France.
Thankfully for Deschamps, he has a wealth of attacking options to choose from, ones which have already seen them crowned world champions. Regardless of Benzema’s condition, they will manage.
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