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France needed an equalizer from Griezmann in the second half to draw Hungary 1-1 in Budapest on Saturday, a result which nevertheless left them top of Group F of the European Championship with four points.
The world champions beat Germany 1-0 in their opener in Munich and now need just one point against Portugal on Wednesday to secure a place in the round of 16. However, the lack of goals from their superstar attack from Benzema, Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe became the topic of discussion – against Germany it was a home side goal of Mats Hummels that decided the game.
“He wants to score like Kylian and me, and as a player you need him to feel relaxed and released,” Griezmann said. “He’s been very important in our bonding game and I’m sure when he scores a goal the tap will open and he will keep running. He knows he has the support of the staff and the players and we hope. that he’ll score a goal … soon, but the most annoying thing would be if he didn’t even get the chance. “
Benzema was recalled by France coach Didier Deschamps for the European Championship after an international exile of five and a half years. It was a controversial move as Benzema awaits trial over his alleged involvement in a blackmail plot involving a sextape and former France teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
Without Benzema, France reached the Euro 2016 final and then won the 2018 World Cup, but there is no doubt about their credentials on the pitch. The 33-year-old has scored 23 goals for Madrid in the season just ended.
Nevertheless, his performance on Saturday earned him a score of only 3 out of 10 in the major sports daily L’Equipe. The newspaper noted that Benzema “has never scored a Euro after eight matches and 33 shots”.
Lead writer Vincent Duluc said that “Even at 33, even after 12 seasons at Real, the pressure still seems to be mounting on him, as does the expectation he created but now feels.” His comeback remains. a great story, but so far it has been flawed. “
But there is no question for Deschamps to reconsider his offensive options, for now anyway. Noel Le Graet, boss of the French Football Federation, told AFP that Benzema’s performance, and that of his teammates, must be seen against the backdrop of the stifling conditions in the Hungarian capital.
“So far, he has only played two official matches, after two friendlies, so he is still finding his marks,” Le Graet told AFP. “He played well in the first game. On Saturday it was the same for all forwards: the amount of running they had to do without the ball, in the 33 degree heat, made it difficult.”
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