Page 32 - bon-dia-aruba-20210519

A32 sports

Benzema recalled by France coach Deschamps for Euro 2020

(AP) — France coach Di- the first time, but Manches-
dier Deschamps recalled ter United forward Anthony
forward Karim Benzema Martial was left out after
after nearly six years out struggling to shake off a knee
for his alleged part in a injury he picked up with
"sex tape" scandal, includ- France in late March.
ing the Real Madrid star
in his squad for the Euro- All eyes will be on Benzema
pean Championship. if he's selected against Ger-
many on June 15 — seven
The 33-year-old Benzema years after playing in a losing
played the last of his 81 side against the Germans in
games for Les Bleus in Oc- the World Cup quarterfinals
tober 2015, scoring twice in in Brazil.
a friendly against Armenia to
take his international tally to Little more than one year
27 goals. later, his international career
was in free fall.
"Why now? I don't have the
capacity and no one does, Deschamps, whose family for the good of the team, as it The scandal caused huge
not even Karim, of going home was tagged with offen- Benzema has been in argu- always is, and the France team waves in France and led to a
back and changing the past," sive graffiti after Benzema's ably the best form of his ca- is meant to be better with massive fallout between Ben-
Deschamps said when an- interview, said he had spo- reer, scoring 29 goals in 45 Benzema in it," Deschamps zema and the tricky winger
nouncing his squad on na- ken directly with Benzema to games this season and form- said. "But that's in no way to Valbuena, who were once
tional television. "The most clear the air. ing a close bond with Zin- discard Olivier Giroud. He's teammates.
important thing is today and edine Zidane, the former also around. Let's not forget
the future." "Obviously to come to this France great who won the that France had very good He is suspected of having
decision there were impor- 1998 World Cup and Euro results for many years. We pressured Valbuena to pay
Benzema had been banned tant steps to take, one of 2000 in the same side as De- were European Champion- blackmailers who threatened
from the national team be- which was very important. schamps. ship runner-up and won the to reveal an intimate video in
cause of the "sex tape" scan- We met each other, we spoke World Cup (in 2018)." which Valbuena featured.
dal in which he was allegedly for a long time," Deschamps Benzema has come into his
involved in blackmailing for- said. "That was the most im- own at Madrid since Cris- But Deschamps sounded ex- Benzema will stand trial
mer France teammate Mat- portant step, after which I tiano Ronaldo left to join Ju- cited when asked if Benzema again in October on the
thieu Valbuena. obviously had a very long ventus three years ago, mov- would play in a three-man charge of complicity in at-
think about many things and ing up to fifth on the club's attack alongside Paris Saint- tempted blackmail, which
Benzema faced a deluge of to reach this decision now." all-time scoring list with 278 Germain star Kylian Mbappe carries a maximum penalty
criticism, and then-Prime goals. and Barcelona's Antoine of five years in jail and a fine
Minister Manuel Valls said Deschamps made clear that Griezmann, who played with of 75,000 euros ($90,000).
the forward had no place in any lingering grudges seem His return could cost Olivier Benzema at the 2014 World By that time, Benzema could
the national team. to have been firmly buried. Giroud his starting place in Cup. have won his first major tro-
the national team due to lack phy with Les Bleus after win-
Benzema, who is of Algerian "I won't tell you a single word of match fitness. Giroud has "That is part of the think- ning four Champions League
descent, had a good relation- about the discussion between hardly played for Chelsea ing, yes. Obviously on paper titles with Madrid.
ship with Deschamps. But in us, it concerns only us two. since Thomas Tuchel took many things can look really
an interview, he had accused But he needed it and I needed charge of the Premier League great," he said. "I'm lucky to A strong performance at
Deschamps of giving in to it," Deschamps said. "I think team after Frank Lampard be able to count on players of Euro 2020 could also push
pressure from racists when the France team is above ev- was fired, with Tuchel using very, very high level ... I can't his cause to become France's
the coach decided not to in- erything else. It doesn't be- him mostly as a substitute complain." first winner of the prestigious
clude him in the squad for long to me, even though I'm since February. Ballon d'Or award since Zi-
Euro 2016. aware of the important re- Sevilla center half Jules dane in '98.
sponsibility I have." "I consider that the choice is Kounde was called up for

Serena Williams loses in straight sets to Siniakova in Parma

victory since defeating Si- set and that appeared to give play like this, I can play well.
mona Halep in the Australian the Czech player confidence I just need to try be more fo-
Open quarterfinals in Febru- as after securing the tiebreak cused every time and to stay
ary. After some time off, Wil- she pulled away in the sec- calm and ready for every
liams then lost in straight sets ond to win 16 of the last 18 point. I will be really happy if
in Rome to Nadia Podoroska. points. I could keep it like this."
Williams is preparing for the
French Open in Paris which The 39-year-old Williams Former U.S. Open champi-
starts on May 30. racked up double faults un- on Sloane Stephens reached
der pressure and Siniakova the quarterfinals after rallying
"I didn't do a lot of mistakes, sealed the result on her third to beat fourth-seeded Daria
and I think she felt it," Sin- match point when the Amer- Kasatkina 1-6, 6-4, 7-5.
iakova said. "I think she was ican hit a forehand long. Wil-
(AP) — Serena Williams' dis- accepted a wild-card invita- trying to go harder and do- liams had seven double faults Third-seeded Coco Gauff
appointing return to tennis tion for the Parma tourna- ing a lot of mistakes, which for the match. eliminated Kaia Kanepi 7-6
continued when she lost in ment after losing her opening helped me. I'm really happy (6), 7-6 (7) in a first-round
straight sets to 68th-ranked match at the Italian Open last I could keep my level all "It's amazing, it means a lot to match. Second-seeded Petra
Katerina Siniakova in the week, was beaten 7-6 (4), 6-2. match." me," Siniakova said after the Martic also got her Parma
second round of the Emilia- She had beaten teenage quali- sixth Top 10 victory of her campaign off to a good start
Romagna Open on Tuesday. fier Lisa Pigato 6-3, 6-2 in the Siniakova saved a set point career. "I played (an) amazing by beating Varvara Gracheva
Top-seeded Williams, who previous round for her first at 5-4 down in the opening match. It shows me that I can 6-4, 6-2.