Can Karim Benzema help France win the World Cup?

Karim Benzema

Two sensational consecutive wins have catapulted France to the top of Group E and have now seen the team become contenders for the World Cup trophy almost overnight.

The team have seen a huge recovery since their abysmal winless performance in the 2010 World Cup ,and have seen their odds slashed from 20/1 to just 8/1 to win the tournament.

France has not been without its obstacles for this year’s World Cup: it was announced shortly before the games kicked off that arguably one of their most dependable players, Franck Ribery, would not be taking part due to a back injury incurred during a training session.

Furthermore, in their most recent game, it appeared France may have set the bar a little too high for themselves following their previous victories. After a 3-0 and a 5-2 victory, we could arguably forgive the boys for being a little tired. And given their previous performance, they hardly needed a third consecutive victory to get past the group stages.

No respite for Benzema

However, France manager Didier Deschamps made the tactical decision to make six changes to his team for the Ecuador match, arguably keeping hold of his best players in preparation for their upcoming battle with Nigeria. Interestingly however, Deschamps chose to stick with his previously dependable goal scorer Benzema, who did not live up to his name in France’s most recent game. While some commentators asked, “Where was Benzema?” others had a different explanation for his comparatively goalless performance.

As a follower of the Muslim faith, Benzema will doubtless be preparing himself for the upcoming festival of Ramadan. The month-long festival, which begins on Sunday, June 29, requires followers of the faith to fast from sunrise to sunset, which could cause problems for an athlete with as much pressure on him as Benzema. While many followers sleep throughout the day to help them through the process, this is a luxury that cannot be afforded to one of France’s best players.

However, thankfully for Deschamps, Benzema has helped carry the team thus far, despite a disappointing 0-0 final score in their trial with Ecuador. If the 26-year-old can work around his upcoming obstacles and keep up his performance from the first two previous games, he could arguably take France all the way and repeat their 1998 success.

Stamping out hostile Honduras

Benzema’s reign of terror began when the team took on Honduras, whose dirty tactics seemed more geared towards injuring France’s players rather than scoring any goals.

The Real Madrid striker scored two of the team’s goals during the first group stage game, with an embarrassing own goal (aided by much needed goal line technology) from Honduras’ Valladares securing their 3-0 victory.

A joint effort for Switzerland

With five goals against the Swiss, we could be forgiven for not expecting Benzema to have scored them all – in fact, the five goals were the result of amazing team chemistry between Oliver Giroud, Blaise Matuidi, Mathieu Valbuena and Moussa Sissoko. While Switzerland made an admirable effort to try and claw back some goals, scoring in the 81st and 87th minute, the exciting game finished with an amazing 5-2 scoreline in favour of France.

Benzema may not have scored in France’s last game, but all eyes will be on him as the team take on Nigeria next week. Deschamps has described him as “world class”. And if he is to follow his success with Real Madrid recently, there is every chance that he could carry France through to the final.

Let’s hope that France remember their amazing winning streak between 1998 and 2006 – with the Confederations Cups and a Euro title in eight short years, not to mention a World Cup win,.