Zinedine Zidane said he did not understand why Karim Benzema did not play for France after the striker scored two goals and an assist in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Celta de Vigo in their last league game before the international break.
Benzema scored his first goalkeeper at 20 minutes in Balaidos, and another 10 minutes later – both with passes from Toni Kroos – with Madrid moving ahead of Barcelona to second place and three points behind leader Atlético de Madrid.
– Reviews: Benzema 9/10 in Ream Madrid’s victory over Celta de Vigo
The goal means that Benzema – who has not been called up by French coach Didier Deschamps since 2015 – has 17 league goals this season and has scored eight in the last six games in all competitions.
“You don’t understand, I don’t understand, there are a lot of people who don’t,” said Zidane, when asked about Deschamps’ refusal to visit Benzema. “For me, as a coach for Real Madrid, it is better that he stay with us, for sure. What he did today with his teammates was spectacular. He works hard and wants more.”
Benzema’s exclusion from the French national team in 2015 resulted from his alleged involvement – for which he should be tried – in a conspiracy to blackmail former international teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
The French Football Federation’s initial decision to suspend Benzema was followed by Deschamps omitting Benzema from his call for Euro 2016.
The striker responded by saying that Deschamps “gave in to pressure from a racist part of France” by leaving him out.
“As long as Deschamps is the coach of the national team, I will not have a chance to return,” said Benzema in 2017.
While Benzema remains in Madrid at the international window next week, teammates Raphael Varane and Ferland Mendy will join France – while Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Thibaut Courtois have also been called up by their countries.
“We know the schedule, there are many games, but we will continue, for now the players are doing well,” said Zidane, when asked about the busy list of games. “[Modric and Kroos] they will leave with their national teams and play games, for me, as a coach for Real Madrid, this is not ideal, but there is nothing we can do about it ”.
Zidane also confirmed that Ramos should be able to play for Spain, despite having lost Real Madrid’s victory in Vigo with a stroke.