France’s Karim Benzema fluffed his lines while World Cup's big names have delivered

 
Impotent: Karim Benzema has failed to impact France's campaign since the early group stages
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James Olley4 July 2014

France have been waiting for the Karim Benzema who delivers such headturning displays for Real Madrid to turn up for some time. He could not be found here in the Maracana.

The 26-year-old had earned high praise from coach Didier Deschamps after a group stage in which he scored three times and was only denied a fourth by both an errant penalty against Switzerland and fabulous last-minute strike ruled out by an officious referee declaring time was up seconds earlier.

Expectations were high of a player who was left behind for the 2010 World Cup, especially given the clamour for a tactical switch in France’s front three which placed him at the heart of everything Deschamps was planning.

Against Nigeria at the last 16 stage, Olivier Giroud was deployed as the attacking spearhead with Benzema on the left and Mathieu Valbuena on the right. Giroud was dropped here for Antoine Greizmann, who changed the game in Brasilia, with Benzema reverting to centre-forward.

The supply line was established. He had to deliver. Benzema’s performances may have been enough to convince Madrid to offer him a lucrative new three-year contract – incidentally landing a further blow to Arsenal, who have courted his services for some time, on a day when Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud were all considered surplus to requirements for a World Cup quarter-final – but in a tournament where so many leading players have thrived, France’s leading man fluffed his lines.

Germany began with a very high defensive line and a compact midfield compressing the space for Valebuena and Griezmann to weave their intricate patterns. However, as Algeria had found in their last 16 clash, there was joy to be had with a more rudimentary approach and Germany’s vulnerability to a simple long ball reared itself again here.

There was a sporadic but very real threat. Benzema had already sidefooted wide when promisingly placed after clever work from Valbuena in the left channel when Germany took the lead.

France v Germany - player ratings

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Mats Hummels headed home Toni Kroos’ 12 minute free-kick, rising above 21-year-old French centre-back Raphael Varane, whose promise is undeniable but perhaps inexperience told in that vital moment where concentration and focus are paramount. Four of the last five goals France have conceded came from set-pieces – it is a trend which has threatened to cost Deschamps’ side dear long before now.

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris fielded a question at the pre-match press conference lamenting France’s slow starts to matches in Brazil by declaring that they had not conceded in those lackadaisical beginnings.

They did here and the toughest test of this newfound French unity – so refreshingly at odds with the mutinous chaos of four years ago in South Africa – was at hand.

A long ball forward from Sakho found Griezmann, who in turn delivered a pass for Valbuena, whose left foot shot drew a fine save from Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The rebound fell to Benzema, who could not contort his body to facilitate anything more than a weak attempt at goal which took a deflection and led to a corner which came to nothing.

Benzema headed a good cross from Patrice Evra straight at a German defender, hoping in vain for a penalty, before he elegantly controlled Paul Pogba’s pass, cut inside menacingly onto his right foot but then fired a tame effort Neuer saved without thought.

He appeared burdened with the responsibility, although it was one he did not shirk. Collecting a 76 minute cross in the box – with Valbuena behind him waiting to unleash a volley – he struck another left foot shot, this time blocked by Hummels.

On the path to tournament finals, Germany are just that little more streetwise. Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger picked up cynical yellow cards when France threatened to find a glimmer of space.

A fifth consecutive tournament semi-final reveals a knowhow that can often only be overcome by the brilliance of the biggest names. Benzema was joined by Loic Remy and then Giroud at the end. But the dye was already cast.

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