Benzema Wary of Ibrahimovic Ahead of France–Sweden Clash
Marseille – 16 November 2014
As France prepares to face Sweden in a high-profile friendly at the Stade Vélodrome on Tuesday, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has made no secret of his wish to avoid facing Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Speaking to Aujourd’hui en France, Benzema acknowledged the threat posed by the Swedish talisman and was candid in his preference that Ibrahimovic not feature in the match.
“I prefer that he is not here. Quite simply because he is a great player and he can put the French team in danger,” said the French striker.
The match will see two of Europe’s most prominent forwards go head-to-head—should Ibrahimovic be declared fit. The 33-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star boasts an imposing international record with 100 caps and 50 goals for Sweden, while Benzema, 26, has 75 caps and 25 goals for France.
While the fixture is officially a friendly, the presence of such high-calibre names on both sides has sparked intrigue among fans and pundits alike. For Benzema, however, the match carries personal weight—not only because of his role as France’s frontman, but also due to inevitable comparisons with Ibrahimovic, who remains a towering figure in French football due to his exploits in Ligue 1.
France coach Didier Deschamps will likely use the fixture to test combinations ahead of the Euro 2016 tournament, which France will host. With Les Bleus not involved in qualifiers, such friendlies have taken on added importance for assessing squad chemistry and individual form.
Benzema, who has had a strong season with Real Madrid, will be aiming to solidify his role as Deschamps’ first-choice striker amid competition from the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and André-Pierre Gignac. But the looming presence of Ibrahimovic, even in an opposing shirt, remains a storyline difficult to ignore.
Tuesday’s match promises to be more than just a routine friendly—it will be a stage for stars, and for Benzema, a chance to shine without Zlatan stealing the spotlight.
