Presse Sports-USA TODAY Sports
Karim Benzema has finally ended a 1222-minute long goal-scoring drought with the French national team after scoring against Australia this Friday in a 6-0, win but his goal was overshadowed by Olivier Giroud‘s fantastic first-half performance. Benzema’s last goal was against Estonia in June 2012.
Benzema, who came on for Giroud at half time, scored from a cross by the Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery at the 51st minute. The Real Madrid striker, who hadn’t scored in over 13 games, had become the symbol of the French national team’s problems.
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He was the most criticized player, but has always been protected by Didier Deschamps, who still maintained him in the starting lineup despite Giroud’s good performances with Arsenal.
The ”bad news” of the day for Benzema is that Giroud, who started the game, scored two goals and had a fantastic performance. Both strikers hadn’t scored in six games, but Benzema was by far the most criticized, especially after France’s goalless draw in Georgia where he missed a number of chances. ”
Les Bleus” looked very good in the first half with Giroud upfront, scoring four goals in 29 minutes and creating a lot of chances. This was probably one of their best halves since Deschamps took over in July 2012. Many will probably point out the fact that France’s very good half was without Benzema on the field.
The identity of the starting striker for France against Finland on Tuesday will be the subject of many debates in France over the next few days.
Karim Benzema has finally scored for France after a seemingly endless goal-scoring drought. This would have been the perfect night for him if Olivier Giroud hadn’t scored, but the irony of the story for Benzema is that the Arsenal striker has probably gone ahead of him in the pecking order the night he lifted the curse.
