The Real Madrid striker has not been included in his country's 2018 World Cup squad, and the supremo is sure it is the right decision Karim Benzema has no hope of forcing his way back into the France national team, according to Noel Le Graet, the president of the French Football Federation. Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps omitted Benzema from his squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, instead selecting Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Nabil Fekir as his striking options. Le Graet appeared to back the decision in an interview, surmising that France have a certain "style of play and we cannot go back". Benzema, who scored just 12 goals for Real Madrid in all competitions this season, subsequently hit out at the supremo, insisting via Twitter that has seen his "true face". The FFF president has now insisted that he did not mean to offend the 30-year-old, despite again insisting that he will never play for France again. "I'm not sure who wrote that, to be perfectly honest," he said, per RMC Sport. Article continues below "The comments I made about him had nothing nasty about him. On the contrary. I remain the only person who has declared consistently that he's a great player, but the France team for him is over. "I've never said otherwise." France will face Australia, Denmark and Peru in Group C in Russia, and are rated as one of the favourites to win the competition.<doc-sep>Los Angeles Galaxy attacker Zlatan Ibrahimovic delivered some strong quotes about Karim Benzema’s absence in France’s squad list for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Benzema has not played for France since 2015, when the Real Madrid forward was placed under formal investigation over an alleged bid to blackmail fellow footballer Mathieu Valbuena. It’s not clear if he will ever return to the team or not. “For me it’s not normal that Benzema is not in the national team because he’s one of the best in the world, he’s won Champions Leagues, he plays in Madrid. He’s not with this team and that has nothing to do with football,” said Ibrahimovic. “If it’s his [Deschamps] decision he’s not good enough, then the coach should not be there, Benzema should be. And I find it very ridiculous because if you want to win you get winners and Benzema is a winner,” added the Swedish attacker. France won their opening game in this 2018 World Cup by beating Australia 2-1.<doc-sep>Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes the Real ace should be in France’s squad, but the Champions League hero made it easy for Didier Deschamps to leave him out Watching France’s opening World Cup clash against Australia on Saturday must have been a frustrating experience for those unlucky enough to be left at home. Head coach Didier Deschamps had both the luxury and the curse of having to leave out a group of players who would likely have strolled into any other squad at the tournament. Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette? Not consistent enough. Manchester United’s Anthony Martial? Not good enough. Kingsley Coman? Not fit enough. Amid all the absentees, though, it was the omission of Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema that caused the greatest stir. Nine days after Deschamps had named his preliminary panel, without the 30-year-old in it, the Lyon-born forward offered a response by scoring in the Champions League final to lead Zinedine Zidane’s men to a third successive title. The forward stood accused of taking part in a blackmailing plot against the ex-Marseille man earlier that year, and while he was finally cleared of wrongdoing in the case in July 2017, he was never recalled to the national team, despite a suspension imposed by the French FA (FFF) being lifted. For Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the legendary Swedish striker who spent four years in France playing with Paris Saint-Germain, this continued absence is inexcusable, particularly having watched Les Bleus toil to a 2-1 win in their opening game. “If the coach says he's not good enough for this team then the coach should not be there, but Benzema should. It's very easy,” he told beIN Sports. “I find it very ridiculous that he's not there because if you want to win, you get winners, and Benzema is a winner.” Building a World Cup-winning side, though, is not necessarily simply about picking the best players. Just as vital is constructing a team with spirit. France, perhaps more than any country, know that only too well, having seen campaigns in 2010 and then at Euro 2012 disintegrate amidst a lack of harmony among the group. Benzema is a player who simply does not fit into the framework in this regard. Suggestions that his absence is a manifestation of Deschamps’ dislike for him are simply not the case. If that were true, would Benzema have played 10 successive internationals during and after World Cup 2014, scoring just one goal in the process? It does not appear credible. So, the question must then be raised: is his talent sufficiently above that of players such as Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele to risk sacrificing the harmony in the group? Deschamps does not believe so and the evidence backs up the France boss. Amidst Benzema’s barren run, he was expected to be a key figure in the Brazil 2014 quarter-final against Germany. He failed to make an impact in that game as his side suffered a 1-0 defeat. Fast forward two years and France again found themselves up against Germany. This time they had no Benzema, but they did have an improving Griezmann, who converted both goals as Les Bleus eliminated the world champions from Euro 2016 and thereby moved into the final. In the meantime, there had been opportunities for Benzema to work his way back into the squad. Instead of embracing these, he served only to complicate his life, notably accusing Deschamps of racism. “He has bowed to the pressure of a racist part of France,” the attacker, who is of Algerian origin, told Marca. Between those comments and the rise of a fresh generation of attacking talent, the basis of which now forms the forefront of Deschamps’ attack, his fate was sealed. These comments served only to isolate the forward from the coach and the team as a whole. FFF president Noel Le Graet said before the World Cup: “The France team is over for Benzema.” Article continues below That may not prove to be the case – if Zinedine Zidane was to take the reins of the national side the situation could transform rapidly – but under Deschamps there is no prospect for a recall. It’s all very well for Ibrahimovic to steam into the debate with a simplistic argument, but the fact is that the situation is far more nuanced than he appears to be aware. The baggage the striker brings outweighs the contribution he is likely to make. Lacazette, Martial, and Coman have every right to be frustrated; Benzema should only be regretful.<doc-sep>
Karim Benzema should be at the World Cup and not France coach Didier Deschamps, says Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Benzema has not played for his country since October 2015, having been investigated in relation to an alleged attempt to blackmail international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena. French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet angered the Real Madrid striker by backing Deschamps' selections and saying Les Bleus had settled into a "style of play and we cannot go back". 😳❌ With @FIFAWorldCup rosters now officially official, @kev_egan and @PhilSchoen play one last game of who do you blame for some of the big-name omissions. See it all here 👀👉 https://t.co/lgSBkdZWKF pic.twitter.com/3lFlTRZP1o — beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) June 5, 2018 After France failed to impress in their 2-1 win over Group C rivals Australia on Saturday, Ibrahimovic suggested it showed Benzema would have served France better than the coach. "For me, it's not normal Benzema is not in the national team," he told beIN SPORTS. "He's one of the best in the world, he won the Champions League, he plays in Madrid, that he's not in this team has nothing to do with football. "If the coach has a decision in saying he's not good enough for this team then the coach should not be there, but Benzema should. It's very easy. "I find it very ridiculous that he's not there because if you want to win, you get winners, and Benzema is a winner." Benzema has scored 27 goals in 81 appearances for France, including three goals at the 2014 World Cup.