18, November 2019
Benzema hits back at French football boss: ‘I alone will call end to international career’ 0
France’s ostracized striker Karim Benzema has fired back at the head of the French Football Federation, who declared this week that the Real Madrid star’s international career was over.
Though a fixture of Real Madrid’s squad for the past 10 years, Benzema has been excluded from the French national team since 2015 over his alleged involvement in an attempt to blackmail a former teammate.
Earlier this week, his coach at Real Madrid, French football legend Zinedine Zidane, called for Benzema’s four-year exile to be ended, describing him as France’s “best” striker.
But Zidane’s plea was promptly dismissed by Noël Le Graët, the head of the French Football Federation, who told French radio that Benzema’s days with Les Bleus were over.
On Saturday, the player hit back at Le Graët, writing on his Twitter account: “Noël I thought you didn’t interfere with the decisions of the France coach.
“Please understand that I and I alone will call an end to my international career.”
The 31-year-old striker, who is of Algerian origin, added that Le Graët should let him play for another country if he thinks he is done with France.
Benzema was placed under formal investigation in 2015 for his alleged part in the attempt to blackmail teammate Mathieu Valbuena. The case is still pending.
France’s coach Didier Deschamps has maintained that Benzema’s omission is in the best interests of the French squad, who won last year’s World Cup without him.
The striker has scored 9 goals in 11 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid already this season.
“He has always wanted to play for France,” Zidane said this week of his player.
“He is the best and I think he should definitely have a place in the national team,” Zidane added. “Football-wise, there is no debate.”
Source: France 24
21, November 2019
Celtic star confirms he rejected offer to play for the Indomitable Lions 0
Celtic star Olivier Ntcham’s saga with his national teams has been well documented, now he says he rejected Cameroon’s offer.
Olivier Ntcham has the opportunity to play for two national squads: France and Cameroon. Until now, the midfielder has exclusively played for the French national team. Just a few days ago, The Celtic Bhoys pointed out that Olivier Ntcham was mysteriously left off of either country’s U-21 squads.
The reason for the snub has now been revealed. As Celts Are Here has pointed out, a player with multiple nationalities has the opportunity to switch allegiances until they have reached a senior team with one country in particular.
This is the case for Olivier Ntcham, as he has played for France his entire career, but now Cameroon looks like the option Olivier Ntcham would like to pursue, except that he didn’t this time around.
Speaking to the Celtic View, a Celtic magazine publication, and transcribed by Celts Are Here, this is what the Lazio hero had to say about the national team status:
“The Cameroon manager approached me last year about it we talked and I told him my targets.
“We spoke again recently when I was preparing for the Europa League games but I told him international football was not my priority right now because I had to make sure I got back in the Celtic team first.
“Once I do that, then I can think about football. My parents are both from Cameroon but I’ve never been there myself. I think my parents would be happier if I played with France.”
You love to hear that from a blooming star, the fact that he wants to put his own club ahead of his personal international pursuits is huge. Also something of interesting note, is that it sounds like he still wants to play for France, and so does his parents.
While that would be a huge blow for the Cameroonian squad, the level of development he could get with the French squad would go a long way in his pursuit of club goals. A great example of this is current teammate Odsonne Edouard who is excelling with the French U-21 squad.
Source: The Celticbhoys