French pundit Pierre Menes says Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema should be playing for France.

Benzema, outstanding for Real, hasn't featured for France since before Euro2016 after becoming embroiled in an alleged blackmail plot.

Menes said on Parlons Ballon: "The problem is that we are in France, and this case (Mathieu) Valbuena will take ten years to judge, but in any case, it does not justify making a perpetrator.

"He has already missed two major competitions with Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, that's enough. I love football and I tell myself that if we line up a Griezmann-Mbappé-Benzema attack, we scare the whole world.

"I think you are much less afraid with Olivier Giroud, even if he scores goals, but against whom he scores? Sportingly, I am for the return of Karim Benzema in the France team.

"Footballistically, his absence is obviously very unfortunate."