French pundit Daniel Riolo has criticised France coach Didier Deschamps over his management of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

Benzema was released from France's World Cup squad before the tournament kickoff due to a thigh strain, which he recovered from ten days later. However, Deschamps refused to call him back.

Riolo said on RMC: “They asked him to force the workouts when he did not want to. Injured again. For me it was a relapse. But he could have been on the bench for the round of 16, and in the semi he would have been fully operational.

“There you have a truth to tell. Karim Benzema deserved more respect. We take him for an idiot and kick him out. Some players like (Hugo) Lloris, (Antoine) Griezmann or (Olivier) Giroud did not dislike him leaving.

"Deschamps did not want Benzema and his return to the national team. He does not know how to manage the personalities and the different egos that can be in a locker room. He is strong in building a group, which is not the same. Benzema represented a problem for him."