Karim Benzema named in France’s Euro 2020 squad for first international call up since 2015

05/19/2021

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Didier Deschamps has named France’s final shortlisted squad for the postponed Euro 2020, which will kick off from June 11th, with Karim Benzema joining Kylian Mbappe and co in the 26 man squad. The Les Bleus have been placed in Group F for the tournament alongside Germany, Hungary and Portugal.

With the postponed Euro 2020 around the corner, it has seen international coaches from all over Europe flying across the world in order to get the final names down for the fast approaching tournament. Starting from 11th June onwards, UEFA has allowed coaches to include a revised 26 players instead of 23 players with it done in order to help players accommodate the perils of a tiring, congested and condensed season.

However, with France yet to release their final squad list, reports indicated that Karim Benzema was set to make the cut and that was confirmed when France, via their official Twitter page, dropped their final 26 man squad. It saw Benzema earn a shock call-up for Les Blues' Euro 2020 campaign this summer despite the fact that the Real Madrid striker has not featured for his national side since 2015.

The 33-year-old was left out of France’s squads for Euro 2016 and the World Cup in 2018, while he also played no part in his nation’s qualifying campaign for Euro 2020. New additions in the squad include Borussia Monchengladbach's Marcus Thuram and Sevilla's Jules Kounde while Anthony Martial has not made the cut with that not shocking considering the underwhelming season he has with Manchester United.

The full list:

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham) ,Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Mike Maignan (Lille)

Defenders: Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Leo Dubois (France), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Lucas Digne (Everton), Clement Lenglet (Barcelona), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea)

Midfielders: N'golo Kante (Chelsea), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Adrien Rabiot (Paris Saint-Germain), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham)

Attackers: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain, Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona), Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona).