Karim Benzema equals Zidane, before adding to France's personnel woes

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France’s alarming injury woes have been added to even further this evening, during the nation’s meeting with Switzerland.

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Blues on the ropes

Didier Deschamps’ men are of course locked in action with the Swiss at present, in a Euro 2020 Last-16 showdown.

Les Bleus headed into proceedings as overwhelming favourites to advance, and with just ten minutes remaining at the National Arena, looked set to do exactly that.

After Ricardo Rodriguez blew the chance to add to Haris Seferovic’s opener from the penalty spot, France quickly turned things up a notch, opening up a 3-1 advantage courtesy of a Karim Benzema double, and Paul Pogba’s long-range stunner:

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PAUL POGBA WHAT A GOAL!!!! #FRASUI | #ITVFootball | #Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/X2ZSJRjcop

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 28, 2021

Just hours on from Croatia’s remarkable last-gasp comeback versus Spain, though, Switzerland, too, clawed their way back into things.

After Seferovic notched his 2nd of the evening to bring the Swiss within striking distance, Mario Gavranovic shocked the masses in levelling things up with 90 minutes on the clock, sending proceedings into extra time:

WOW. #FRASUI | #ITVFootball | #Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/5r8X5PNJsO

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 28, 2021

Benz blow

As things stand, despite chances at both ends, the scoreline remains locked at 3-3, deep into the 2nd-half of time added on in Bucharest.

As outlined above, though, if France do go on to get things back on track, and ultimately eliminate Switzerland, they may be forced to see out the nation’s upcoming quarter-final meeting with Spain sans the services of another key performer.

The player in question? Karim Benzema.

After netting his brace this evening, it was revealed that Real Madrid hitman Benzema has equalled the legendary Zinedine Zidane in the all-time goalscoring ranks of Les Bleus:

Karim Benzema tonight equals Zinedine Zidane’s 31 goals for France. Joint 6th top scorer for the country of all time.

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) June 28, 2021

Just minutes into extra-time, the 33-year-old pulled up with a fitness problem, before eventually limping off to be replaced by Olivier Giroud.

Whilst the issue did not look a serious one, it remains to be seen how long France’s star hitman could be out of action.