Olivier Giroud and Karim Benzema Would lead the Attack

Benzema left and Giroud right

France coach Didier Deschamps is set to pair Olivier Giroud and Karim Benzema together in attack for Friday's World Cup qualifier in Georgia, having admitted on Thursday that the Real Madrid man 'can do better'.

Benzema has gone more than 19 hours without scoring for Les Bleus since netting a brace in a friendly against Estonia in May last year, but Deschamps will now hope that the presence of Giroud - who has started the season well with Arsenal - will take some of the pressure off his supposed star man.


"I have spoken with him several times and there are things he can do better," Deschamps said when questioned about Benzema in Tbilisi on the eve of the key Group I clash.

"Karim knows his own quality, what he is capable of doing. Everything depends on his physical condition. There have been times when his fitness has not been so good, notably last season. But he has had a fresh start and is playing regularly now."

Despite that, the 25-year-old Benzema was booed by sections of the Real Madrid support during their win against Athletic Bilbao last weekend and also came in for veiled criticism from Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti for his perceived lack of workrate,