FIFA World Cup: Franck Ribery absence pushes Karim Benzema into spotlight

Lille (France): With injury banishing Franck Ribery from the World Cup in Brazil, Karim Benezma has now been thrust onto centre stage for France. Ribery is widely considered France’s most creative spark and his absence will leave a huge hole to fill in Les Bleus’ attacking line-up. Yet cometh the hour, cometh the man, and perhaps this is the ideal opportunity for the country’s other mercurial talent, Benzema, to really start to deliver on his enormous potential.

Recovered from a groin strain and due to make his comeback against Jamaica on Sunday, Benzema will now carry the hopes of a nation on his shoulders. At 26 years of age, his record of 19 goals in 65 internationals for France is hardly record-breaking but something has changed for Benzema this year to offer hope that maybe he is ready to come of age. He comes into his first World Cup off the back of his best season in a Real Madrid shirt, in which he scored 24 goals as his team finally won the ‘decima’ — their 10th Champions League crown.

“I’ve improved. There’s been criticism, good and bad. I’m one of the old-guard in the French team and I have to set an example,” he said a week ago from France’s domestic training base in Clairefontaine. “I can bring my experience.” Ribery’s breakdown since then, with a back injury, means rather sooner than later Benzema’s role has developed into that of team talisman. The flip side for Benzema is that despite his relative experience compared to most team mates, he can’t really lean on bright memories of previous success at major tournaments.