Benzema double helps France forget Ribery blues

Karim Benzema hit two spectacular goals as France romped to an 8-0 victory over Jamaica in a bid to ease the blow of losing star striker Franck Ribery for the World Cup.

Blaise Matuidi and Antoine Griezmann also scored twice in France’s final World Cup warm-up game before 49,000 fans in Lille.

While Jamaica barely put up any serious opposition, the result was a welcome boost for Didier Deschamps’ team two days after being rocked by Ribery’s withdrawal with a back injury.

“Ribery is a loss, but we have to stop talking about it and get on without him,” said Paris St Germain’s Blaise Matuidi, who scored his first brace for France.

Coach Deschamps insisted France remained united even without star Bayern Munich striker Ribery, who said that leaving the squad was like “a death in my soul”.

“We have lost a world-class player,” said Deschamps. “The French team is stronger with him when he is at 100 per cent, but there are other players. They form a collective.”

Real Madrid’s Benzema said: “A victory was what we needed before leaving. It gives us confidence. Everyone is happy. We showed a lot of good things.”