Mesut Ozil has suggested that France lost their dramatic World Cup final against Argentina due to the absence of striker Karim Benzema.
Benzema had been awarded a place in the France squad for the tournament as Didier Deschamps' side aimed to become the first nation to successfully defend the title since Brazil in 1962. Les Blues were expecting the Ballon d'Or winner to play a leading role at the World Cup.
However, the striker was subsequently ruled out of the tournament with a thigh injury and even though he could have returned to the set-up during the competition - having regained fitness and due to being named in the initial squad - that did not occur.
Benzema even rejected an invite from French president Emmanuel Macron to be part of his private entourage that flew from France to watch Sunday’s final in Qatar. It followed on from the striker cryptically posting on Instagram, saying in French: "Not interested."
France did not exactly struggle for goals without the Ballon d’Or holder. Benzema’s spot in the side has been taken by Olivier Giroud, who has become the all-time leading goalscorer for the French national team during the tournament, in which he bagged four goals.
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Sunday’s final defeat was not due to the nation’s lack of firepower, with Kylian Mbappe netting a sensational hat-trick – becoming the first player to score a treble in a World Cup final since Sir Geoff Hurst in 1966 – and winning the Golden Boot with eight goals across the competition.
However, Ozil – who won the World Cup with Germany in 2014 – tweeted after the game: “No Benzy, No Party.” The two stars were teammates at Real Madrid attack between 2010 and 2013, before Ozil joined Arsenal.
Deschamps did have to majorly revamp his attack five minutes before half-time with the ineffective Giroud and Ousmane Dembele hauled off and Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani brought on.
Benzema's injury meant he missed out on a World Cup slot having returned to the France set-up last year, following a six-year absence. He was reintegrated back into the squad by Deschamps and had started in a central role in a three-man attack, netting 10 goals in 16 international caps since his return to the fold.
