Highlights:
- Zinedine Zidane hails Karim Benzema claiming he is the best striker produced from France
- Zidane, himself, is regarded not just as one of the best players in France to have played Football but also in the whole world
- Benzema helped Real Madrid win their last match against Athletic Club
Karim Benzema has not played for Les Bleus (French National team) since the year 2015, however, he does not show any sign of slowing down.
Head coach of Real Madrid, 48 year old Frenchman Zinedine Zidane hailed Karim Benzema as the best striker ever to have come from France after he helped his league team Real Madrid defeat Athletic Bilbao who are also known as Athletic Club, in a league match on Wednesday.
Benzema scored a late game goal taking the score to 3-1 defeating Athletic Club which levelled Los Blancos on points with league leader Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid who currently place 2nd.
After this game, the 32 year old Frenchman took his goal tally to 10 in all competitions this season which is more any other La Liga player this season, including Lionel Messi.
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After the game, Zinedine Zidane, who is regarded as one of the best footballer to ever play, was asked if Karim Benzema was the best French striker ever to which he replied, “For me yes, in addition to what he does, what he shows, he has been at Real Madrid for a long time.
“More than 500 games, all the goals, his record. What he has done speaks for itself. For me he is the best, it is very clear.”
Even though Benzema has become a legend at Real Madrid, he has not played for his national team since 2015 after the incident which involved his the National teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
Having said this, Benzema, in his time representing France, scored 27 goals in 81 caps. He has also scored more than 250 goals for Real Madrid.
Zidane who himself is a French Football legend said, “He (Karim Benzema) is a more complete player now than he used to be. He is not a pure No.9, he doesn’t just think about scoring goals and that’s what I love about him”.
Zidane added, “He loves to combine with his team-mates and create chances for them but he also knows how to score goals and he does that when the team needs him the most like he did today. That’s what Karim is all about.”
In the game against Athletic Club, Toni Kroos gave Real Madrid an advantage at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano where Athletic were reduced to 10 men after the 13th minute as Raul Garcia was sent back after being handed a red card.
However, Athletic Club pulled themselves back in the game when they levelled the game just 7 minutes into the second half.
Zidane admitted Madrid were below their best, feeling his side pushed too hard against 10 men.
Zidane said, “It is true that we suffered. When you play 11 against 10, if you interpret the game well you can have it easier, but it has been the other way around. We were too hasty”.
“When they lose a player, you say, ‘I’m going to score the goal in 15 minutes’. And you have to be patient.
“After the fourth game in 10 days, there are three points and you have to be very happy.”
Karim Benzema scored 2 goals in the game, first came in 74th minute and the second goal came in the extra time 90+2 minute.
Real Madrid have won their last 3 league matches and would be looking forward to extending it to 4 matches when they meet Eibar on Monday at 1:30 AM at Ipurua Municipal Stadium.
