French pundit Frederic Hermel has revisited Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema's rift with France coach Didier Deschamps.

Benzema, while celebrated at club level, hasn't played for Deschamps' Les Bleus since before the 2016 Euros.

Hermel told RMC: "The supreme error is the interview in Marca, just before the Euros, when he talks about 'the racist part of France'.

"I remember, I was at the time on a TV program in Spain, and they showed me that by saying to me: 'That's it, you're still going to defend Benzema?' And I said myself: 'But how do you want me to defend Benzema on this?'

"It was a monumental error. Without that, he would be world champion today.

"He didn't make the World Cup because of that..."