Benzema International Retirement: Karim Benzema quits France National Team after row with coach Deschamps

Benzema International Retirement: Following a fallout with head coach Didier Deschamps, Real Madrid star Karim Benzema announced his retirement from international football. Benzema was long snubbed from the France National Team before his return last year, but things have once again turned sour for the Ballon d’Or holder. Follow all football updates on Insidesport.IN.

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Benzema International Retirement: Karim Benzema QUITS France National Team after row with coach Deschamps – Follow Live updates

Benzema confirmed the same via a social media post on Monday. The 35-year-old’s revelation comes a day after Les Blues suffered a heartbreaking loss in the FIFA World Cup finals against France.

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A post shared by Karim Benzema (@karimbenzema)

Karim Benzema was called into the France squad for the FIFA World Cup. However, the talismanic striker from Real Madrid suffered an injury that saw him pull out of the Les Blues squad. HIs substitute forward Nkunku too was injured during a training practice and therefore missed the tournament.

🇫🇷 A journey to remember 👏 pic.twitter.com/F8UwhDgdEL

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) December 19, 2022

Benzema International Retirement: Karim Benzema QUITS France National Team after row with coach Deschamps – Follow Live updates

Karim Benzema however recovered in time for the finals against Argentina but was not opted for by France head coach Didier Deschamps. Prior to the finals, Benzema featured in a closed-door practice match against Leganes for Los Blancos. Amidst rifts with the head coach, Benzema opted to choose his retirement a day after France lost the FIFA World Cup finals to Argentina.

The 35-year-old played 97 games for France since his debut in 2007. Over this span, Benzema scored 37 goals for his nation.

“I made the effort and mistakes it took to be where I am today and I’m proud of it! I wrote my story and ours is ending,” Benzema wrote on Twitter.

Benzema International Retirement: Karim Benzema QUITS France National Team after row with coach Deschamps – Follow Live updates

Benzema made his international debut in 2007. He played at the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 as well as the 2014 World Cup but was omitted from the next two major tournament squads over a blackmail scandal. He was recalled for Euro 2020 last year, where Didier Deschamps’ side suffered an early exit, and helped France win the Nations League in October 2021.

Benzema enjoyed a stellar campaign with Real Madrid last season, scoring 44 goals in 46 games in all competitions as he inspired them to a LaLiga and Champions League double.

Since his return to the international team, Benzema had scored 10 goals in 16 appearances but was forced to sit out France’s defence of the World Cup, which ended in a 4-2 defeat on penalties to Argentina in Sunday’s final.