Benzema called back in France's national team

Reigning world champions, and runners-up at the last European Championship, France have been called up for the main national team tournament on the Old Continent. Coach Didier Dechamps announced today the list of players who will defend Les Bleus in its quest for a third championship. 

The main news is the return of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who is back in the squad after almost six years. The center forward was removed from the national team after a blackmailing episode with former teammate Valbuena. 

The last match of the merengue number 9 for the national team was in October 2015, in a friendly against Armenia in preparation for the 2016 European Championship. On that occasion, Benzema scored twice in a 4-0 victory.

Unlike usual, when 23 players are called up, Uefa has allowed 26 players to be called up for the Eurocup. The reason is because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which can cause teams to miss out on eventual cases of the disease.

Goleiros: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Mike Maignam (Lille) e Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marselha);

 Defensores: Clemént Lenglet (Barcelona), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Jules Koundé (Sevilla), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea), Lucas Digne (Everton), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern de Munique), Lucas Hernández (Bayern de Munique) e Léo Dubois (Lyon); 

Meio-campistas: N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Thomas Lemar (Atlético de Madrid), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham) e Corentin Tolisso (Bayern de Munique); Atacantes: Ben Yedder (Monaco), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern de Munique), Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona)