Karim Benzema left out of France squad "for the good of the team"

Karim Benzema left out of France squad "for the good of the team"

Karim Benzema has been left out of the France squad for “the good of the team” according to coach Didier Deschamps.

Asked about the striker, who has not appeared for France since being charged with blackmail of his team-mate Mathieu Valbuena, over a sex-tape, the coach said: “All of the decisions I make are for the good of the team.”

A French court will decide on October 14 if Benzema is implicated in the blackmail case. The Real Madrid forward has been involved in numerous controversies.