• Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema (L), Real Madrid's French defender Aurelien Tchouameni (C) and Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Eder Militao attend a training session at the Ciudad Real Madrid training complex in Valdebebas, outskirts of Madrid, on December 29, 2022, on the eve of their Spanish League football match against Real Valladolid FC. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
    Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema (L), Real Madrid's French defender Aurelien Tchouameni (C) and Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Eder Militao attend a training session at the Ciudad Real Madrid training complex in Valdebebas, outskirts of Madrid, on December 29, 2022, on the eve of their Spanish League football match against Real Valladolid FC. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
  • From left: Real Madrid's Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric attend a training session on Thursday. AFP
    From left: Real Madrid's Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric attend a training session on Thursday. AFP
  • Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy during training in Madrid. EPA
    Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy during training in Madrid. EPA
  • Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga and Karim Benzema attend a training session in Valdebebas. AFP
    Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga and Karim Benzema attend a training session in Valdebebas. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy, Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga during training. AFP
    Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy, Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga during training. AFP
  • Real Madrid's players attend a training session in Valdebebas. AFP
    Real Madrid's players attend a training session in Valdebebas. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois attends a training session. AFP
    Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois attends a training session. AFP
  • Real Madrid's David Alaba during training. AFP
    Real Madrid's David Alaba during training. AFP
  • Marco Asensio, left, and Federico Valverde attend a training session. AFP
    Marco Asensio, left, and Federico Valverde attend a training session. AFP
  • Vinicius Junior, left, and Luka Modric during Real Madrid's training session. AFP
    Vinicius Junior, left, and Luka Modric during Real Madrid's training session. AFP
  • Real Madrid's defender Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Junior attend a training session. AFP
    Real Madrid's defender Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Junior attend a training session. AFP
  • From left: Real Madrid's Luka Modric, Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Rodrygo attend a training session. AFP
    From left: Real Madrid's Luka Modric, Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Rodrygo attend a training session. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Vinicius and Antonio Rudiger train on Thursday. EPA
    Real Madrid's Vinicius and Antonio Rudiger train on Thursday. EPA

Karim Benzema trains with Real Madrid after France retirement - in pictures


  • English
  • Arabic

Real Madrid ramped up reparations for the resumption of La Liga after the World Cup break and one player who can't wait for the action to begin is Karim Benzema.

The France forward announced his retirement from international football after missing out on the finals in Qatar due to injury.

Benzema scored 37 goals in 97 games for France and made the decision to quit the national team just 24 hours after Les Bleus lost the World Cup final to Argentina after a penalty shoot out.

His hopes of adding a world title to his Ballon d’Or award were ruined by a left thigh injury while training with France. However, reports have emerged that Benzema could have recovered in time for the knockout stage and that the relations between Benzema and France manager Didier Deschamps had broken down.

It is in the backdrop that Barcelona and Real Madrid resume their fight for the Spanish title.

When club play stopped in early November, Barcelona and Madrid were already threatening to make it a two-team race with nine points separating second-place Madrid from Real Sociedad in third.

Barcelona enjoy a two-point lead and host rivals Espanyol at Camp Nou on Saturday, a day before defending champions Madrid visit Valladolid.

“We have Benzema back, which is very important,” manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Thursday. “A very motivated player has returned and we are convinced that he is going to give us a lot.”

  • France forward Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring during a World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan at Parc des Princes in Paris, in November 2021. Benzema announced his retirement from international on December 19, 2022. AFP
    France forward Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring during a World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan at Parc des Princes in Paris, in November 2021. Benzema announced his retirement from international on December 19, 2022. AFP
  • France's Karim Benzema training ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup that he would eventuall miss through injury. Reuters
    France's Karim Benzema training ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup that he would eventuall miss through injury. Reuters
  • Karim Benzema alongside Kylian Mbappea during the Nations League match against Croatia in June 2022. AFP
    Karim Benzema alongside Kylian Mbappea during the Nations League match against Croatia in June 2022. AFP
  • Karim Benemza scored 37 times in 97 appearances for France. AFP
    Karim Benemza scored 37 times in 97 appearances for France. AFP
  • Karim Benzema hugs France manager Didier Deschamps after the Nations League game against Austria in June 2022. AFP
    Karim Benzema hugs France manager Didier Deschamps after the Nations League game against Austria in June 2022. AFP
  • Karim Benzema training with France at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. AFP
    Karim Benzema training with France at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. AFP
  • France's Karim Benzema in action against Croatia in the Nations League match in June 2022. AP
    France's Karim Benzema in action against Croatia in the Nations League match in June 2022. AP
  • France's Karim Benzema under pressure from Josip Stanisic of Croatia during the Nations League match in June 2022. Reuters
    France's Karim Benzema under pressure from Josip Stanisic of Croatia during the Nations League match in June 2022. Reuters
  • Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for France against Denmark during the Nations League match in June 2022. AFP
    Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for France against Denmark during the Nations League match in June 2022. AFP
  • Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for France against Denmark during the Nations League match in June 2022. AFP
    Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for France against Denmark during the Nations League match in June 2022. AFP
  • Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for France against Denmark during the Nations League match in June 2022. AFP
    Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for France against Denmark during the Nations League match in June 2022. AFP
Company%20profile
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First-round leaderbaord

-5 C Conners (Can)

-3 B Koepka (US), K Bradley (US), V Hovland (Nor), A Wise (US), S Horsfield (Eng), C Davis (Aus);

-2 C Morikawa (US), M Laird (Sco), C Tringale (US)

Selected others: -1 P Casey (Eng), R Fowler (US), T Hatton (Eng)

Level B DeChambeau (US), J Rose (Eng) 

1 L Westwood (Eng), J Spieth (US)

3 R McIlroy (NI)

4 D Johnson (US)

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

More from Armen Sarkissian
Set-jetting on the Emerald Isle

Other shows filmed in Ireland include: Vikings (County Wicklow), The Fall (Belfast), Line of Duty (Belfast), Penny Dreadful (Dublin), Ripper Street (Dublin), Krypton (Belfast)

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amit%20Joshi%20and%20Aradhana%20Sah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECast%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shahid%20Kapoor%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%2C%20Dharmendra%2C%20Dimple%20Kapadia%2C%20Rakesh%20Bedi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974  
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work

Racecard

6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m  

6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m  

7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m  

7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m  

8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m  

8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m  

9.30pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m   

Suggested picnic spots

Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
 
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes 

Updated: December 30, 2022, 7:25 AM