Deschamps talks about Benzema: He crossed the line LaLiga - Real Madrid Remembers the striker's interview with MARCA

World Cup-winning France coach Didier Deschamps remains adamant that he is not willing to bring Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema back into the national team setup.

The 31-year-old has not featured for France since 2015, following the Mathieu Valbuena sex tape scandal.

Benzema did little to heal his relationship with Deschamps when, on 1 June 2016, he gave an interview with MARCA where he criticised the coach.

"Deschamps has bowed to pressure from a racist part of France," MARCA's cover read from the interview.

For Deschamps, that was inexcusable.

"Some people can give speeches that can have consequences that go beyond any form of understanding, and I can never forget that," he said to Europe 1.

"At that moment I considered that a line had been crossed.

"I pick French players, all of them are French, and it has never occurred to me to not select someone based on their colour or religion."

Across LaLiga Santander and the Champions League, Benzema has scored 10 goals in 24 games this season.