Benzema was left out of Didier Deschamps’ squad for Euro 2016 amid the fallout of his alleged involvement in the blackmail of Lyon star Mathieu Valbuena - and in his absence Olivier Giroud has stepped up to the plate.
Giroud scored again in the 5-2 victory over Iceland to help France into the semi-finals, where they will face Germany, and now sits second in the tournament’s scoring charts.
The goal takes the 29-year-old’s tally with the national team to 10 in his last nine starts and seven in eight appearances for Les Bleus in 2016.
Giroud’s form with his country is a far cry from his recent struggles with his club - his four goals in Arsenal’s final two Premier League games ended a drought in the English top flight that stretched back to January 13.
