The 25-year-old scored in the second half against Australia to end his 16-month international goal drought
Karim Benzema has voiced his relief after his second-half goal in a 6-0 win over Australia ended a span of 1,222 minutes without a goal for France.
The drought lasted over 16-months, with his last international goal coming in a friendly against Estonia in June of 2012 and the Real Madrid star has admitted that his long wait to find the net got to him.
“I have managed to score the goal that had weighed a little on my mind,” he told the press after the match.
“I thank all the team who have been behind me. It was nice to be supported by the public.
“There is another game on Tuesday (against Finland) and we will need the win.”
Coach Didier Deschamps, meanwhile, was delighted with the victory, but acknowledged that Australia do not represent the toughest challenge.
“This is the value of an international match,” he told TF1.
“I know that our opponent was not at our level, but it was a game that we made easy with the intentions and effectiveness we displayed.
“To score six goals is never easy. This is a team victory. It is very positive.”