Benzema affair overshadows France’s clash with Germany

Striker Gomez returns, could start in attack

PARIS, Nov 12, (AFP): The sex tape blackmail affair involving Mathieu Valbuena and which has led to star striker Karim Benzema being charged completely overshadows the build-up to France’s friendly with Germany on Friday.

The sides meet at the Stade de France just under a month before the final draw takes place in Paris for Euro 2016, a tournament in which both nations will be among the favourites.

But Les Bleus’ prospects are already being called into question, and their current good form rendered practically irrelevant, by recent events.

Benzema was last week charged with complicity to blackmail and conspiring to commit a criminal act, charges that carry a prison sentence of at least five years, in relation to a sex tape featuring Valbuena.

He was also banned from meeting Valbuena, and potentially incriminating transcripts of telephone conversations involving the Real Madrid striker have been widely reported in French media. France coach Didier Deschamps has overseen four successive friendly wins this season and must try to keep the focus on the football for the games against the Germans and England at Wembley next Tuesday.

Both Benzema and Valbuena were left out of his squad, with Deschamps saying the latter’s absence was due to his “psychological condition” while Benzema’s was fitness related.

In the meantime, he will hope others can stake a claim for a place in the side.

Benzema is France’s outstanding centre-forward while little Lyon playmaker Valbuena recently won his 50th cap but, as his squad got together this week, Deschamps said. “I have selected 23 players. I have confidence in them.

“The most important thing is the group and their strength as a collective. On the German side there are also players missing and important ones too.

“Everyone has to make themselves indispensable but nobody is irreplaceable.”

Among those looking to impress will be Hatem Ben Arfa, who returns to the fold after an outstanding start to this season at Nice.

The former Newcastle United forward won the last of his 13 caps at Euro 2012

France’s forward Kingsley Coman (right), and defender Laurent Koscielny take part in a training session in Clairefontaineen-Yvelines on Nov 10, ahead of a friendly football match between France and Germany to be held on Nov 13. (AFP)

In this photograph taken on Sept 14, 2015, Bangladesh’s Kolsindur high school football team captain Maria Manda (center) controls the ball during a match in

Dhaka. (AFP)