Real Madrid’s veteran striker Karim Benzema has been named in France’s 26-man squad for this summer’s European Championship after an international absence of nearly six years.
Benzema — Real Madrid’s fifth all-time top goalscorer, as well as their all-time top assist provider — missed France’s Euro 2016 campaign and 2018 World Cup win as a result of his alleged involvement in an attempted blackmail case involving a former international team-mate.
He has however been recalled by manager Didier Deschamps and will now star for France alongside a bevy of experienced internationals, including captain Hugo Lloris, recent Champions League winner N’Golo Kante and Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.
France are the favourites to win this summer’s tournament but they will not have it easy, having been drawn in a group with Hungary, Germany and reigning European champions Portugal.
Who is their key player?
The French will be looking to add to the 2018 World Cup triumph and make up for the disappointment of the last Euros when they failed at the final hurdle on home soil against an obdurate Portugal.
Key to those hopes is 22-year-old Mbappe, the PSG forward who shone at the last World Cup while still a teenager.
Mbappe averages almost a goal a game for his club and has been compared to Thierry Henry by no less an authority than Arsene Wenger.
Can the striker make it two triumphs in his first two international tournaments? You wouldn’t bet against it.
What is the full squad?
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Mike Maignan (Lille)
Defenders: Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Leo Dubois (Lyon), 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)
Squad list accurate as of Thursday, June 10.