Despite being in the World Cup squad in France, Karim Benzema did not play in any match of the World Cup in Qatar due to injury. Did not play in Qatar World Cup due to injury. Even though he recovered in the middle, probably because of the team combination, France coach Didier Deschamps did not field him. Karim Benzema announced his retirement less than 24 hours after France’s defeat in the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday. The Ballon d’Or-winning Real Madrid striker will not be seen in international football again.
Monday is Benzema’s 35th birthday. He took the difficult decision on such a special day. Announcing his retirement, he wrote on social media, ‘I tried to give my best. I am here today because of what I did wrong. I am proud of it. I finished writing my story.
Benzema, who was injured a day before the World Cup in Qatar, was knocked out of the tournament. However, coach Didier Desham did not exclude him from the 26-member squad for the World Cup at that time. A dramatic recovery during the knockout stages of the World Cup has given him the chance to play in the World Cup. But Desham did not give him that chance. Furious, Benzema retired from the national team right after the World Cup final.
The Ballon d’Or winning striker announced his decision on his official Twitter account on Monday (December 19). He writes, ‘I have tried and failed, it has led me to where I am today, and am so proud of it. I wrote my story and our last.’
Fabrizio Romano, a renowned sports journalist and reliable source of transfer news, also confirmed Benzema’s retirement. The Italian said the 34-year-old Real Madrid star has already informed his team of his decision and has left the France team.
Earlier, after the victory in the semi-final, French President Emmanuel Macron said that all those who were dropped from the World Cup team due to injury should be present in Qatar for the final. He also invited the players to that. However, Benzema rejected the French President’s invitation.
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Benzema posted a photo on Instagram last Friday (December 16). There he wrote in the caption, ‘I am not interested.’ After Benzema’s caption, everyone is saying that the Real star has responded to the French president’s invitation.
In the end, he severed his ties with the France team the day after losing the tiebreaker in the final against Argentina. He retired from international football on his birthday. He played for France in the 2014 World Cup and scored 3 goals and 2 assists. Besides, he won the UEFA Nations League title for the country.
He scored 37 goals in 97 matches on the jersey of the national team.