Karim Benzema picks up hamstring injury after scoring for France

France have confirmed that Karim Benzema will miss their friendly in Denmark on Sunday after injuring himself while scoring his second goal in their win over Armenia.

 

Benzema, 27, got on the scoresheet for his country for the first time since October 2014 when he powered home a header late on in France's 4-0 win in Nice on Thursday.

The Real Madrid striker added another goal just a minute later, having earlier helped the home team break the deadlock in the first half by teeing up Antoine Griezmann.

Benzema's late double improved on a run of only one goal in his previous 12 appearances for France.

The night ended on a low note, however, as he was immediately substituted after scoring his team's fourth goal.

On Friday, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed that the Real Madrid striker had suffered a hamstring injury.

"Karim Benzema had an MRI scan this Friday morning which confirmed the clinical examination of the night before and showed grade one damage to the left hamstring," a statement from the FFF read.

Benzema was due to leave the French camp on Friday afternoon and he could now be a doubt for Real Madrid's Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain on Oct. 21.

Grade one is the least serious on a scale of three possible types of injury to the hamstring, representing a mild strain or pull of the muscle rather than an outright tear. It can clear up within a few days but it could also take up to three weeks to recover from.

France manager Didier Deschamps had not seemed too concerned after the game on Thursday night, revealing that the forward had picked up the injury as he bore down on the visiting keeper after 79 minutes.

"He felt something for his second goal, during his feint and the shot," Deschamps told a news conference after the game. "It's a little muscular discomfort at the back of the hamstring. It doesn't seem to be very serious but there's something there."

The French Football Federation later confirmed that he had sustained a hamstring injury although did not say how long he would be out.

In the build-up to Thursday's match, Deschamps became exasperated by constant questions about Benzema's form for Les Bleus, pointing out that he needed better service from his teammates to find the net more regularly.
The player himself has also grown tired of such criticism, but after taking his tally at international level to 27 goals in 81 matches, Benzema said he has always enjoyed playing for France.
"I heard and people told me that I wasn't happy and that I didn't want to come and play for France," the former Lyon striker told reporters. "That's false. I'm happy when I join up with the national side and I want to win trophies with this team."