Invited to react to the end of the international career of Karim Benzema, Raymond Domenech, who was his first coach, was not kind to the Madrid striker.
Karim Benzema and the France team, it’s over. In the aftermath of the disappointment experienced by the Blues in the World Cup final, the Real Madrid striker has indeed announced his international retirement, drawing a line under his 15 seasons in selection. And at the time of taking stock, Raymond Domenech, who was the first to call him into the France team in March 2007, is to say the least divided.
“It’s mixed. I think Karim’s career is very mixed. His club career is huge and if he had the Ballon d’Or, it’s not for nothing. In selection, there were ups and downs, and his career was truncated by a complicated period with Didier. I remain on my hunger. I tell myself that it’s a pity, he confided to the microphone of La Chaîne L’Equipe. It’s a shame he’s quitting because playing at Real, I think he still had the potential to do two years. He could have gone to the Euro. We can salute what he has done, but as an international, I remain unsatisfied. What he had at the start promised him a career, a future with titles. Everything he did not have in selection. »
The former tricolor coach also reconsidered his decision not to call him up for the 2010 World Cup. “His career at Real Madrid has not always been easy. 2010 was with Mourinho, who called him a little cat to say how insignificant he was in Real’s game. At that time, he hardly played, he reminded. There was no penalty. He was not playing at Real, he was not at the level. It’s not Mbappé, who was at the top level from the start and stayed there. He had to work, had to question himself. »