France and Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris says Karim Benzema is a key member of the Les Bleus side despite his goalscoring troubles an international level.
While Benzema leads the way in La Liga this season with five goals, the 27-year-old striker only has one goal in his last 12 appearances for Didier Deschamps’ side, prompting criticism of him from some quarters.
But ahead of this weekend’s round of international games, Lloris told journalists Benzema is an influential member of the France team and will play a key role at next summer’s European Champions, held in their country.
“He helps the team a lot. He would like to score a little more, obviously, but we are a team so we wish that the French national team scores much more. He’s got a status here. He’s really concerned about the collective. He’s here to be the leader,” he stated.
And he continued: “Like in the past, a great French national team essentially needs a great collective. That’s how the greatest individual skills of some players can be expressed. He’s one of them. He’ll lead the French national team where we want to be.”
Benzema netted Real’s goal in their 1-1 draw with Atletico de Madrid at the weekend but then expressed his disappointment at being substituted late on – the six time he has been removed in his last eight games.
