Didier Deschamps has left Karim Benzema in international football limbo after stating the Real Madrid striker could yet be recalled to the France team, World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry has claimed.
In an interview that was published in Le Parisien on Wednesday, Deschamps, who captained a France side containing Dugarry to FIFA World Cup glory in 1998, stated Benzema, 28, would be called up if the boss of Les Bleus considered it "good for the national team."
The former Lyon striker picked up the last of his 81 caps in October 2015 before he was charged with conspiracy to blackmail as part of an investigation into an alleged extortion attempt on international teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
"I get the impression Deschamps is maintaining the uncertainty, and that annoys me," Dugarry said on his RMC radio show.
"I put myself in the shoes of the player...It's a year-and-a-half that he's not been been called up, that he's not available for selection, even if we're told that he is. Given his level, if was available for selection, he would be called up."
Benzema, who found the net 24 times in 27 La Liga games last season and who has scored 13 times in 24 competitive starts this term, was left out of the Deschamps-led France squad who were runners-up at Euro 2016.
He had to watch from home as Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud were given the chance to shine, with the Atletico Madrid striker becoming the darling of his nation as he finished as the tournament's top scorer.
Dugarry told his former international teammate that he needed to make his mind up about one of France's most talented but controversial players.
"There comes a time when the coach has to decide," said Dugarry, who also won Euro 2000 with Deschamps as captain. "When you have such a talented player, he has the right to have an explanation that stands up, that is reliable...If you don't pick him because you think he's going to cause problems, you have to say so. He's been waiting for a year-and-a-half.
"Justice is long and it's working to his detriment...In the end, it's a kid who hasn't been convicted and who hasn't been able to play for France for a year-and-a-half."