Love him or hate him, you simply cannot deny Karim Benzema’s greatness. Real Madrid’s season is over, but the living legend keeps doing what he does best in the colours of his national team.The Nkunku – Benzema linkup finally happens once Mbappe gets injured pic.twitter.com/ZTuocrgX5s— ً (@nahbrowildin) June 3, 2022 France hosted Denmark in their first match of the UEFA Nations League match and were goalless after the opening 45 minutes. Things didn’t look too good for Les Bleus after Kylian Mbappe picked up what looked like a knee injury just before the break.Saturday, 21.45: (3.00) Italy (3.30) Germany (2.55)But Benzema created a beautiful goal out of thin air to open the scoring. He played a neat one-two with Christopher Nkunku, the man who’d come on to replace Mbappe, sold a dummy to another Danish defender before slotting past Kasper Schmeichel.Everyone present at Stade de France was in awe of yet another goal from their colossal goalscorer. That was Karim’s 37 goal in 95 appearances for the French national team. In total, it’s now 52 goals in 56 appearances this season. Simply breath-taking.The French were still stunned in the last 20 minutes as Andreas Cornelius scored twice to give Denmark an unlikely victory on French soil.In other Nations League top-tier matches, there were also unexpected home defeats for Croatia and Belgium – two national teams that are considered among the world’s finest.Croatia were annihilated in Osijek thanks to goals from Marko Arnautovic, Michael Gregoritsch and Marcel Sabitzer on the occasion of Ralf Rangnick’s first match in charge of the Austrian national side. If only his players were this clinical over the past season when he was in charge of Manchester United…𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐖𝐈𝐍 at the neighbours! 🔥🇳🇱#NationsLeague #BELNED pic.twitter.com/xjlf1TXqmB— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) June 3, 2022 Belgium had a disastrous night indeed. They were schooled by neighbours Netherlands with Memphis Depay hitting a double and they also lost Romelu Lukaku through injury.We’ve seen some surprising results tonight – but some aspects of this Friday night of football watching weren’t surprising at all – like Karim Benzema being as cool as ice in front of goal.UEFA NATIONS LEAGUELEAGUE A, ROUND 1WednesdayPoland – Wales 2-1 (0-0)/Kaminski 72, Swiderski 85 – Williams 52/ThursdayCzech R. – Switzerland 2-1 (1-1)/Kuchta 11, Sow 58 og – Okafor 44/Spain – Portugal 1-1 (1-0)/Morata 25 – Horta 82/FridayBelgium – Netherlands 1-4 (0-1)/Batshuayi 90+3 – Bergwijn 40, Depay 51, 66, Dumfries 62/Croatia – Austria 0-3 (0-1)/Arnautovic 41, Gregoritsch 54, Sabitzer 57/France – Denmark 1-2 (0-0)/Benzema 51 – Cornelius 68, 88/Saturday19.00: (10.0) Hungary (4.50) England (1.42)21.45: (2.60) Italy (3.30) Germany (2.90)***odds are subject to change
