Scoring two goals for France against Portugal, this is Karim Benzema’s comment

DBasia.news – Karim Benzema has admitted he is starting to feel the pressure of not scoring, but the Real Madrid striker finally broke through after scoring twice for France against Portugal in a 2-2 draw in the Euro 2020 group stage.

The forward did not score or provide an assist in his first four games for Les Bleus since his return to the national team, but he scored from the penalty spot just before half-time and from open play in the second half to re-open his international scoring streak.

France will face Switzerland in the round of 16 on Tuesday (29/6) after Didier Deschamps’ squad qualified as winners of Group F.

“How do I feel? [I feel] elated and proud after scoring the goal,” Benzema told beIN Sports. “Everyone was waiting for that [the goal]. There was pressure on me, but I am a footballer, a professional and I benefited from that.”

“It was nice to score again, and apart from that we qualified. I wanted to score in this team because I know that goals are very important in this competition.”

He added to TF1: “I never doubted myself, but I know there are expectations from everyone of me. I scored a goal and I’m going to enjoy it with everyone.”

Benzema has gone five years and 258 days without a goal for France having been sidelined, the second-longest time span to score again for Les Bleus after Didier Deschamps [seven years]

At 33 years old, Benzema also became the oldest player to score more than one goal in a game at a major tournament for France, overtaking Zinedine Zidane for the record.

“We finished first, we know what awaits us now,” Deschamps told TF1. “And a new competition begins.”

“We will now recover well and we will prepare [for the game against Switzerland] as best we can.”

Of Benzema, the manager said: “It’s a pleasure for Karim. He’s looking for that, he hasn’t lost his confidence or my trust. It’s much better that he was there tonight.”