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via Reuters

via Reuters

Karim Benzema missing a penalty last night was a moment etched in disappointment. The 35-year-old could have saved Al-Ittihad from an enormous 3-1 loss against Al Ahly in the Club World Cup. Unfortunately, the Frenchman’s weak central strike sent the ball into the hands of Al Ahly’s goalkeeper, Mohamed El Shenawy. Consequently, this miss from Benzema destroyed the chance for his team to equalize the game. This one wrong move from the Ballon d’Or winner is now attracting widespread criticism from the soccer world.

Interestingly, Benzema is considered the best player of Al-Ittihad, as he has already scored a whopping 12 goals in all 17 matches he played for the Saudi Arabian club. However, this feat does not save him from criticism.

Soccer analyst verbally attacks Karim Benzema

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After Karim Benzema missed the penalty, many, including soccer analyst Hamed Al-Balawi, ruthlessly criticized the Frenchman. He said, “Laser or no laser, [Karim] Benzema is a waste, and today he was reckless.” This one flaw from Benzema even kicked out his team from the Club World Cup.

 

In the 21st minute of the match, the Egyptian club’s Ali Maaloul scored a magnificent goal for his team, making the score 1-0. Following this shot, Benzema received the golden opportunity to equalize the score through a penalty, which he missed.

The Egyptian side was in their top game, as following Maaloul’s goal, Hussein El Shahat, and Emam Ashour took the score to 3-0. Nonetheless, Benzema didn’t give up his spirit, even in the face of a loss, and scored one for his team. However, the damage was already done, and he could not save his team from a colossal loss. The fate of the reigning SPL Champions was indeed a heartbreaking moment for Benzema’s fans, as he started off the Club World Cup with an impressive victory.

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The hopes were high for Al-Ittihad

Al-Ittihad’s first match in the Club World Cup was against Auckland City, and the team achieved a glorious 3-1 victory. During the game, Benzema not only scored for his team but also showcased a brilliant performance. After the match, the iconic striker made history by becoming the only player to score in four different FIFA Club World Cups.

READ MORE: Karim Benzema Issues Warning to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City Ahead of FIFA Club World Cup

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Following this victory, Benzema clarified that he never gave importance to individual achievements. Instead, he always wanted to achieve big things for his entire team with a collective effort. Moreover, he mentioned that he always gives top priority to his team’s interests and everything else after that. Do you think that Benzema was reckless during the match? Let us know in the comments below.

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