Benzema world cup

With Franck Ribery out injured and the lead role in the play that is the France national team vacated, Karim Benzema has a chance to shine on stage and perform for the whole world to see. Benzema enjoyed a superb season for Real Madrid last term under the shadow of Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, but now it's his turn to enjoy the limelight with the void that Ribery has left in the France team, and he can inspire France to World Cup glory this summer.

Having tasted the glory of a Champions League title last season with Real Madrid, Karim Benzema will be hungry for more gold in Brazil. In France's last match before the World Cup in the international friendly against Jamaica, Benzema was the most lethal man on the field, a level above everyone else. The Frenchman grabbed himself a brace and a treble of assists, along with showing fantastic build up play with his teammates. Benzema's two goals were unstoppable and chances he sculpted out of nothing with the great passing and touches he had with his teammates before pulling the trigger. The assists showed the vision and creativity Benzema has to offer when deployed correctly. He is a true target man on the field, and his teammates don't look for him without a reason. He can charge at defenders taking the ball forward and also has the ability to  hold play up and bounce passes off with teammates.

To be the star that shines brightest for France, Benzema will have to play with the confidence he has exerted over the last few months for club and country. He knows how to re-ignite himself after being extinguished having ended a drought of 1224 minutes of international football without a goal last year, but now he has to stay on fire and keep burning for his country. To do this he will have to score or assist multiple goals in the group in which France are placed in, which contains Honduras, Switzerland and Ecuador. On paper France are a class above these three teams, and this  group could also act as a stepping block for an unexpected golden boot challenge from Benzema.

With the presence of Olivier Giroud in the squad, there is no room for failure from Benzema in the group stages of the World Cup. In the best form of his career, a great World Cup from Benzema will not only boost his international reputation but will give Real Madrid a reason to stick with him and not pursue Luis Suarez.