DIDIER DESCHAMPS has reportedly forced Karim Benzema and Olivier Giroud to sit next to each other in a bid to end their feud.
Benzema, 33, has returned to the national squad for the first time in five years, and in that time he has been critical of his fellow striker Giroud.
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The Real Madrid star believes he is far better than his team-mate, and to improve the relationship France boss Deschamps has ordered the strikers to sit together Clairefontaine, according to L’Equipe via Get French Football News.
In March 2020 Benzema was asked to compare himself to Giroud. He replied: “This won’t take long. You don’t confuse F1 with go-karting. And I’m being kind. I know I’m F1.
“It works because he’s there. That’s all. It’s not going to be spectacular, it’s not going to be anything crazy but in his way you see more of Griezmann or Mbappe because he will put the work in.
“Does everyone like that way of playing? I don’t know.”
Despite Benzema’s jibe, Giroud boasts an incredible record for France having scored 44 goals for the national team.
He trails only all-time top scorer Thierry Henry, who scored 51.
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Benzema meanwhile has scored 27 international goals.
Chelsea forward Giroud has attempted to play down rumours of a rift between him and Benzema.
He said: “At the time, when I was unfairly criticised because of Karim’s absence, it hurt me.
“I continued to prove that I deserved my place and this supposed rivalry with Karim was created from scratch by some people.
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“I had nothing to do with it, we just play the same position. It happened but I reacted well to these difficulties.”
However, Deschamps clearly feels there is another step needed in the healing process, hence his order for them to sit beside one another.
They will not be alone though, as Antoine Griezmann, Leo Dubois, Raphael Varane, Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard and Hugo Lloris will all reportedly join them on the same table ahead of Euro 2020.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
