Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Lyon midfielder Mathieu Valbuena have been left out of Didier Deschamps France squad for their upcoming friendlies against Germany and England.
The French duo are currently embroiled in a blackmail scandal regarding a sex-tape and Benzema was today charged for ‘complicity to blackmail’, which carries a punishable five-year jail sentence.
France are due to play Germany and England in the next fortnight in the build up to the Euros on home soil next summer.
Benzema hasn’t featured for Real Madrid since the end of September and is nearing a return to full fitness, which means he may not have been included in the squad anyway.
Prior to his month out, however, the Madrid striker had scored six goals in six appearances in La Liga and only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more league goals this season (9).
Additionally, no player to have featured in more than five league games has required fewer minutes per goal than Benzema in La Liga (73.2 mins).
For more stats on Karim Benzema, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
