Karim Benzema has been named in France’s 26-man squad for this summer’s Euro 2020 tournament, with the Real Madrid star earning a recall from Didier Deschamps to the national team for the first time in six years.
Benzema had been a key figure for France since making his debut in 2007, but the forward fell out of favour with the national team program due to his alleged involvement in the Mathieu Valbuena sex tape scandal.
However, he has now rejoined the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann in the French squad as world champions Les Bleus seek to shine at the Euros this summer.
Benzema’s France absence dates back to the Valbuena sex tape scandal, with the Realstar currently facing trial over his alleged involvement.
He is accused of trying to extort money from his fellow France international ahead of a friendly against Armenia five years ago.
Benzema, however, has denied the allegations repeatedly.
He told L’Equipe in 2017: “He said he would not have lodged a complaint if he knew I was involved in the story. For more than a year and a half, I’m his worst enemy, a bad guy, a thug, I have to be punished, dragged through the mud, my name and that of my family, in the dirt.
“It has been almost two years since I was forbidden to see my best friend [Karim Zenati], if not we go to prison, and he is quiet, but he must stop his crap, and I do not know why he keeps talking about me already.
“[Saying] I am his enemy, I wanted to take money from him… he really has to stop inventing, it makes me mad to keep on lying.
“He just had to tell the truth about what really happened, and he would not have had all of this.”
