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FRANCE

Deschamps places France 'harmony' over Benzema return

Karim Benzema may have played his last France game under Didier Deschamps, with the coach unwilling to disrupt the "harmony" in his squad.

Update:
Deschamps places France 'harmony' over Benzema return
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France coach Didier Deschamps says that the "harmony" within his squad is not worth risking by recalling Real Madrid star Karim Benzema.

Benzema has not featured for Les Bleus since being charged by police in connection to an alleged blackmail attempt targeting his international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena, a case which is yet to go to trial.

Deschamps' decision alone

The 29-year-old missed last year's European Championship on home soil as a result, although French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet announced in February that the decision regarding his return to the set-up rested solely with Deschamps and the former French player said "it is never too late" for the Real Madrid attacker to come back and play for his country.

Benzema was once again absent from a squad that will contest fixtures against Paraguay, Sweden and England in June.