Karim Benzema was named in France’s provisional Euro 2020 squad by Didier Deschamps on Tuesday, giving the Real Madrid striker a shock International recall after years in the wilderness over his alleged role in a blackmail plot.
The 33-year-old has not played for France since October 2015, but is now set to line up alongside World Cup winners Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann at the delayed European Championship.
“So proud of this return to the France team and of the trust placed in me,” Benzema said on Twitter.
“Thank you to my family, my friends, my club... and to all those who have always supported me and give me strength every day.”
Benzema, who has scored 27 goals for France in 81 appearances, was named as this season’s best French player playing abroad by the country’s players’ association earlier on Tuesday.
He has netted 29 times for Real Madrid this term, passing 20 league goals in all three seasons since Cristiano Ronaldo left the Santiago Bernabeu for Juventus in 2018.
“How was it done? We made contact, we fixed an appointment and we saw each other,” said Deschamps.
“I never said anything bad about him on a human level. From the start, there was a relationship of trust. We are not going to go back over what happened.”
France kick off their Euro 2020 campaign against three-time winners Germany in Munich on June 15, face Hungary in Budapest four days later and finish their Group F schedule against holders Portugal on June 23.
Les Bleus have impressed at major tournaments without Benzema, reaching the Euro 2016 final on home soil before losing to Portugal and lifting their second World Cup three years ago in Russia, defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final.
Sextape scandal
The former Lyon forward had not been selected since the sextape scandal involving his former International teammate Mathieu Valbuena broke in 2015.
The case revolves round a plot to extort money from Valbuena by threatening to make a sex video public.
Benzema will be vying for a place in the starting XI with Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud.
For a while, Benzema targeted Giroud on social media saying that while he was a Formula One car, the 34-year-old Giroud was a “go-kart”.
Deschamps also named in-form Monaco forward Wissam Ben Yedder in the squad, but has left out World Cup-winning centre-back Samuel Umtiti.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris, Mike Maignan, Steve Mandanda.
Defenders: Lucas Digne, Leo Dubois, Lucas Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, Jules Kounde, Clement Lenglet, Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Kurt Zouma.
Midfielders: N’Golo Kante, Thomas Lemar, Paul Pogba, Adrien Rabiot, Moussa Sissoko, Corentin Tolisso
Forwards: Wissam Ben Yedder, Karim Benzema, Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Thuram.
Hummels also back
berlin: Germany head coach Joachim Löw on Wednesday named Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels in the 26-man provisional German squad for the Euro 2020 finals, ending the pair’s two-year exile.
“Back again,” Müller, 31, posted on Twitter underneath a picture giving the thumbs up.
Hummels, 32, also reacted, on Instagram: “I am glad to be back — I’m really up for the new chapter”.
However, there was no recall for Bayern Munich defender Jérôme Boateng, who was also axed by Löw in March 2019 alongside Müller and Hummels.
Löw said he did not regret binning Müller and Hummels two years ago to give younger players a chance in the wake of the disastrous 2018 World Cup campaign when Germany crashed out in the group stages.
However, Germany’s coach admitted recent poor results — including a thrashing by Spain and shock home loss to North Macedonia — meant “we had to rethink everything”.
Germany have been drawn in a tough group and start their Euro 2020 campaign against world champions France on June 15 in Munich, where they also face holders Portugal four days later.
Bayern Munich forward Müller and Dortmund defender Hummels have been recalled because “in terms of leadership, they can also give the team a lot,” Löw added.
“We lacked stability and experience in some games. Müller and Hummels have played very well this season, they can lead.”
Three names will be trimmed from the final 23-man squad for the European Championship from June 11 until July 11.
Eight Bayern Munich players have been named, including captain Manuel Neuer as well as 18-year-old Jamal Musiala, who opted for Germany over England this year.
Two high-profile names missing are injured Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus, who made himself unavailable on Tuesday after an injury-hit season.
A surprise choice is Monaco forward Kevin Volland as back up for Chelsea striker Timo Werner.
“We saw what he did in France, he scored 16 goals and also looks very good physically,” explained Löw.
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has been included despite testing positive for Covid-19.
Loew is “full of hope” that Kroos, 31, will be fit for the finals, but may have to join the German’s training camp after the start date on May 28.
Germany Squad
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Kevin Trapp, Bernd Leno.
Defenders: Antonio Ruediger, Mats Hummels, Matthias Ginter, Niklas Süle, Emre Can, Lukas Klostermann, Robin Gosens, Robin Koch, Christian Guenter, Marcel Halstenberg.
Midfield/Forwards: Joshua Kimmich, Ilkay Gundogan, Serge Gnabry, Kai Havertz, Toni Kroos, Leon Goretzka, Timo Werner, Thomas Müller, Leroy Sane, Jonas Hofmann, Jamal Musiala, Florian Neuhaus, Kevin Volland.
