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French Revelations: Will Karim Benzema Keep Singing Les Bleus For France?
With Benzema's performances at international level considerably poorer than his showings on the club scene, can the Real Madrid star prove a pivotal player for Raymond Domenech in the final stages of World Cup qualifying? Goal.com’s Robin Bairner investigates…
| Bet: | Returns: | Real Madrid £10.62 | Draw £105.00 | Levante £290.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Madrid £10.80 | Draw £90.00 | Levante £260.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Madrid £10.83 | Draw £100.00 | Levante £260.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Madrid £10.80 | Draw £100.00 | Levante £260.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Madrid £10.80 | Draw £87.00 | Levante £170.00 |
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Oct 8, 2009 1:00:27 PM
Generally speaking, most footballers consider representing their country one of the highest honours they can receive throughout the course of their career. For the fans, no less than 100 per cent commitment is required from those pulling on the national team’s jersey, giving international fixtures a unique atmosphere the world over.
But we are approaching World Cup ‘D-Day’, with tensions rising and accusations flailing. Argentina forward Carlos Tevez was forced to firmly refute claims that the Albiceleste are struggling to qualify for next summer’s finals in South Africa because the team members are only interested in playing for a quick buck.
"Do they think that when I go out to play for the national team I'm thinking of the millions I have in the bank? I don't need to be given money to play in the national team," Reuters quoted the Manchester City star as saying.
With nationalistic feelings in the football world coursing, it was therefore something of a shock when Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema explained less than a fortnight ago that he felt less than committed to les Bleus’ cause when they tussled at home against Romania in a must-win qualifier.
Benzema said that he didn’t “really feel like playing, really feel like giving [his] best” when he came on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw and further complained of his peripheral role in the squad to Marca, explaining that he “cannot be expected to change a game… playing just five minutes”.
Of course, the prodigious young hitman's comments have induced a polemic response in l’Hexagone, mostly drawing criticism from senior figures, though the one man who matters, Raymond Domenech, still saw fit to call him into the side, despite labelling the 21-year-old’s comments as “unacceptable”.
“You can't say that at this level,'' Domenech told the press.
“He has the right to think that a bit, that can cross his mind, but he does not have the right to say it, nor to do it. That's unacceptable.
"However, I can extend my hand to someone when they make a mistake. That's the case in this situation. He's young, he has talent, a good future. I'm not going to condemn anyone for a sentence. The pitch is the only answer which counts. I'm very optimistic for him.”
Had les Bleus been cruising towards South Africa, or had a spate of injury problems not struck down offensive talents of the ilk of Franck Ribery, Yoann Gourcuff and Samir Nasri, Domenech may not have been handcuffed by fate to the moody, but undoubtedly talented, youngster.
As it is, Domenech is compelled to stick with Benzema. Dropping the €35 million striker would prove too risky a move, even for the man who once brushed off a humiliating Euro 2008 exit by immediately proposing to his lady friend. But can Benzema be a decisive player for les Bleus in the final two qualifying matches and the two play-off encounters that will presumably follow?
It has been postulated in the French media that les Bleus will play a 4-4-2 system, and if the Barcelona veteran misses out, ‘Benz’ is the natural player to take his place. Having previously talked of the need to set a “benchmark” game for his country, what better way than to strike a few blows to Group 7’s minnows?
Incredibly, Benzema, who has featured on 25 occasions to date for his country, has only found the net in a competitive fixture against the Faroes, when he bagged a brace in Torshavn.
This is not the only astounding statistic for a man who has scored at a rate of nearly one goal in every two games at club level, including 12 in 21 in the Champions League.
In 13 international starts, Benzema has managed just two goals, one of which was a penalty against Turkey. Although he has never been faced with a real whipping boy of the international game in his travels with France when playing from the outset, one would expect a player of Benzema’s undoubted quality to have managed five or six at least.
Indeed, his record of two goals in his last 20 international games inspires little confidence, and neither should his performances, as he has often looked lost and somewhat overawed. And the player has previous admitted this himself, telling Telefoot, “In the French team it does not go well… I've not got the same rhythm, I do not play the same and this is not the same Karim. I am not too confident.”
France Football has even gone so far as to dub this the case of ‘Dr. Karim & Mr. Benzema’.
That certainly isn’t to say that Benzema can never be an effective striker for les Bleus - Nicolas Anelka’s goal scoring record for his country is hardly world class – but there is substantial evidence to suggest that the Rhone-born star is not mature enough for a key role as yet, particularly as the ever-reliable Henry is still on the hunt for more international success.
Such echoes have also been heard from his club side Real Madrid, where coach Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly unconvinced about the forward’s suitability for a team such as los Blancos at this stage in his career. But even as a €35m bit-part player at the Bernabeu, he has made a promising start.
Fingers will inevitably be pointed at coach Raymond Domenech, and though he is a justifiably easy target for many of les Bleus’ ills, he will be a constant in the French ranks until the summer at least.
The hour for Benzema to become France’s international hero will surely arrive, but current circumstances mean that he is unlikely to be an integral player for les Bleus until after South Africa 2010, however absurd that may sound to his many admirers.
Why does Karim Benzema fail to reproduce his club form at international level? Is it Domenech, is it his team-mates? Perhaps you think his form for les Bleus is understated. Goal.com wants to know what you think...
Robin Bairner, Goal.com
But we are approaching World Cup ‘D-Day’, with tensions rising and accusations flailing. Argentina forward Carlos Tevez was forced to firmly refute claims that the Albiceleste are struggling to qualify for next summer’s finals in South Africa because the team members are only interested in playing for a quick buck.
"Do they think that when I go out to play for the national team I'm thinking of the millions I have in the bank? I don't need to be given money to play in the national team," Reuters quoted the Manchester City star as saying.
With nationalistic feelings in the football world coursing, it was therefore something of a shock when Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema explained less than a fortnight ago that he felt less than committed to les Bleus’ cause when they tussled at home against Romania in a must-win qualifier.
Benzema said that he didn’t “really feel like playing, really feel like giving [his] best” when he came on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw and further complained of his peripheral role in the squad to Marca, explaining that he “cannot be expected to change a game… playing just five minutes”.
Of course, the prodigious young hitman's comments have induced a polemic response in l’Hexagone, mostly drawing criticism from senior figures, though the one man who matters, Raymond Domenech, still saw fit to call him into the side, despite labelling the 21-year-old’s comments as “unacceptable”.
“You can't say that at this level,'' Domenech told the press.
“He has the right to think that a bit, that can cross his mind, but he does not have the right to say it, nor to do it. That's unacceptable.
"However, I can extend my hand to someone when they make a mistake. That's the case in this situation. He's young, he has talent, a good future. I'm not going to condemn anyone for a sentence. The pitch is the only answer which counts. I'm very optimistic for him.”
Had les Bleus been cruising towards South Africa, or had a spate of injury problems not struck down offensive talents of the ilk of Franck Ribery, Yoann Gourcuff and Samir Nasri, Domenech may not have been handcuffed by fate to the moody, but undoubtedly talented, youngster.
As it is, Domenech is compelled to stick with Benzema. Dropping the €35 million striker would prove too risky a move, even for the man who once brushed off a humiliating Euro 2008 exit by immediately proposing to his lady friend. But can Benzema be a decisive player for les Bleus in the final two qualifying matches and the two play-off encounters that will presumably follow?
Rarity | Benzema celebrates an international goal
It has been postulated in the French media that les Bleus will play a 4-4-2 system, and if the Barcelona veteran misses out, ‘Benz’ is the natural player to take his place. Having previously talked of the need to set a “benchmark” game for his country, what better way than to strike a few blows to Group 7’s minnows?
Incredibly, Benzema, who has featured on 25 occasions to date for his country, has only found the net in a competitive fixture against the Faroes, when he bagged a brace in Torshavn.
This is not the only astounding statistic for a man who has scored at a rate of nearly one goal in every two games at club level, including 12 in 21 in the Champions League.
In 13 international starts, Benzema has managed just two goals, one of which was a penalty against Turkey. Although he has never been faced with a real whipping boy of the international game in his travels with France when playing from the outset, one would expect a player of Benzema’s undoubted quality to have managed five or six at least.
Indeed, his record of two goals in his last 20 international games inspires little confidence, and neither should his performances, as he has often looked lost and somewhat overawed. And the player has previous admitted this himself, telling Telefoot, “In the French team it does not go well… I've not got the same rhythm, I do not play the same and this is not the same Karim. I am not too confident.”
France Football has even gone so far as to dub this the case of ‘Dr. Karim & Mr. Benzema’.
That certainly isn’t to say that Benzema can never be an effective striker for les Bleus - Nicolas Anelka’s goal scoring record for his country is hardly world class – but there is substantial evidence to suggest that the Rhone-born star is not mature enough for a key role as yet, particularly as the ever-reliable Henry is still on the hunt for more international success.
Such echoes have also been heard from his club side Real Madrid, where coach Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly unconvinced about the forward’s suitability for a team such as los Blancos at this stage in his career. But even as a €35m bit-part player at the Bernabeu, he has made a promising start.
Fingers will inevitably be pointed at coach Raymond Domenech, and though he is a justifiably easy target for many of les Bleus’ ills, he will be a constant in the French ranks until the summer at least.
The hour for Benzema to become France’s international hero will surely arrive, but current circumstances mean that he is unlikely to be an integral player for les Bleus until after South Africa 2010, however absurd that may sound to his many admirers.
Why does Karim Benzema fail to reproduce his club form at international level? Is it Domenech, is it his team-mates? Perhaps you think his form for les Bleus is understated. Goal.com wants to know what you think...
Robin Bairner, Goal.com
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