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June 21, 2012

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Benzema and Ribery struggling

FOR Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery, the misery goes on.

The France forwards came into Euro 2012 full of confidence after career-best goals for their clubs but neither player has been able to justify their lofty reputations.

"I'm not going to think about whether I score every time (I play)," Benzema said. "Sometimes you won't score for 10 games, then you will go on a run and score for 10 (games). The chances will come when you get passes."

The dynamic forward has just enjoyed a breakthrough season at Real Madrid, scoring 21 goals in the Spanish league, but he has scored only three times in his last 15 games for Les Bleus.

"I tried things. We all did," Benzema said. "But we can't hide or make things up. None of us were good enough tonight, except for the goalkeeper (Hugo Lloris). We just weren't in it."

Ribery, who contributed 12 goals for Bayern Munich in the German league, had France's only real chance of the game early on, but drilled the ball at goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson. He hasn't scored in a tournament since opening the scoring against Spain in the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup.

Ahead of the Spain match, Blanc gave reserve forwards Jeremy Menez and Olivier Giroud a chance to impress by throwing them on as substitutes but they also wasted chances.



 

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