Karim Benzema set to decline an invitation for tribute match against Netherlands

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :March 20, 2023 at 5:09 AM

Modified at :December 13, 2023 at 1:01 PM

Karim Benzema set to decline an invitation for tribute match against Netherlands

(Courtesy : RMC Sport - BFMTV)

The Frenchman had tussled over the selection of the National team for World Cup 2022.

According to a source from Téléfoot, Karim Benzema of Real Madrid is not anticipated to participate in the scheduled memorial for France's recently departed international players.

Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda, Raphael Varane, Blaise Matuidi, and Karim Benzema will all be honoured at Les Bleus' game against the Netherlands on Friday, according to France's national team manager Didier Deschamps. In the Stade de France, France will face the Ronald Koeman-led Netherlands team to begin their Euro 2024 qualification campaign.

Nevertheless, it has now been reported that Benzema won't participate in the memorial due to the drama surrounding his dispute with Deschamps about an injury he received during the 2022 World Cup.

After his interview with Le Parisien, the 35-year-old Real Madrid striker posted two distinct messages on Instagram directed at Deschamps: "Such audacity" followed by a clown emoji and "That Didier. Goodnight.” Following that, Benzema declared that he would "explain himself to the public."

Benzema never had a great experience for France; after participating in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he then was called up for the Euro 2020 tournament due to a suspension from the national squad.

Karim Benzema was selected for the Euro 2020 tournament after being expelled from the national team in 2015 following a shocking sex video controversy involving a colleague. The controversy featured a leaked film featuring Mathieu Valbuena, a former teammate of Karim Benzema from France.

Despite the fact that France lost to Switzerland on penalties, the 35-year-old did win a medal for France in the Nations League. In his 97 appearances for France's national team, the former Lyon player has scored 37 goals.

The 35-year-old has looked solid thus far this season despite injuries that have restricted his game time. In 28 games across all competitions, Benzema has scored 19 goals. He will be striving to guide Real Madrid to their 15 Champions League this season.

Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.