Former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Alvaro Arbeloa took a shot at the French national team after they lost 1-0 to Portugal in the final of Euro 2016. France were considered favourites for the title and with the final against a misfiring Portugal team, they were expected to lift the title again.
The French team got another boost when Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal star, had to be substituted in the middle of the first half but despite creating a few great chances, France were unable to win the tournament, something they had achieved in front of their home crowd in 1984.
Also read: Euro 2016 Final: Portugal 1-0 France - 5 talking points
Arbeloa took to Twitter to express his opinion on the final and tweeted in Spanish: “That's what happens when you leave the best #9 in the world at home”.
The Spanish star is referring to Karim Benzema, the Real Madrid striker who was left out from the Didier Deschamps France team for Euro 2016. The French forward was suspended by the national side after it emerged that he had tried to blackmail Mathieu Valbuena regarding a sex tape.
A restriction which stated that the two players, Benzema and Valbuena, to not have any contact was lifted before the France team for the tournament was announced but Benzema was overlooked as France looked to win its first major international competition since Euro 2000.
The French sports minister also stated that it was too early to recall the striker who has played 81 games for the senior side and was quoted by the Guardian, “human values must be taken into consideration”.
Benzema did take to Twitter to express his disappointment about not being selected for Euro 2016: “Unfortunately for me and for all those who have always supported me. I am not selected for our Euro in France ...”
There had been calls for the reinstatement of Benzema into the national side as many believed that the Real Madrid player would have provided France with a greater threat up-front than Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud.
The 28-year-old Benzema has scored 27 goals for the national team while Giroud has netted 20 goals with a much better goals-to-games ratio than the Real Madrid star. It would be interesting to see if Didier Deschamps is ready to call the striker back into the team following their Euro loss and give Benzema another chance.
