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Karim Benzema Is an Asset, but France Can Get by Without Him
Published: March 29, 2016
France coach Didier Deschamps arguably has a bigger job than most, with an enviable pool of talent needing to be whittled down into a group of 23. The sense is that the coach has a pretty good idea of the vast majority of faces who will be billeting at Clairefontaine this summer already, though a few open spots remain.
The impressive return of Dimitri Payet in the international in Amsterdam on Friday is an indicator of the level of competition.
The most important doubt, though, is one that is out of Deschamps' control. He has left little doubt that he would like to include Karim Benzema, as he recently told L'Equipe in an extensive interview (as reported here by Eurosport France, in French), but for now, his hands are tied.
FFF president Noel Le Graet recently commented on the decision on Benzema's eligibility, while a charge for conspiracy to blackmail international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena over a sextape hangs over his head.
Judicial restrictions on Benzema and Valbuena coming face to face have been lifted (though this may not be relevant, with Valbuena's poor form exiling him from the squad at present). Le Graet has said the matter should be resolved either way by April 15, as reported by ESPN FC's Mark Rodden.
Clearly there are more important things for French football to think about at the moment. Security at Euro 2016 is the most paramount among those, as well as working through an emotional period for the game as Les Bleus prepare to return to Stade de France for the first time since the Paris attacks of November.
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