Pires: France need Benzema at the Euros
Robert Pires claims France "need" Karim Benzema for this summer's European Championship - a day after the French Football Federation's president ruled he remains non-selectable.
Real Madrid striker Benzema has been absent from the national squad since being interviewed by police in connection with an alleged blackmail plot against France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.
The case centres on the reported existence of a sex-tape showing Valbuena and his partner.
One of the terms of Benzema's release from custody was that he should have no contact with Valbuena - effectively ruling him out of Didier Deschamps' plans for Les Bleus.
And though the restriction was relaxed at a hearing last month, that decision is subject to an appeal and FFF chief Noel Le Graet is not yet ready to reconsider his stance on Benzema.
"The judicial process evolves every day," he told L'Equipe. "We must follow this process and let the law finish its job."
Regarding the possibility of Benzema and Valbuena playing together, in the event Benzema is cleared to see his colleague again, Le Graet would first have to assess the relationship between the two men for himself.
"I would have to see them together," he said.
Former Arsenal and France midfielder Pires, though, has no doubt where he stands on the issue.
"France need Karim Benzema," he told radio station RTL.
"He is an important player, he plays for a very big club. He knows what the top level is about and he can bring that to us.
"For now, we have to wait for the authorities to give their verdict.
"It's not good for the image of France. I hope Didier makes the right choice, and I will be fully behind him whatever he decides."
Benzema, of course, is not France's only top-level star and Pires is looking forward to seeing Paul Pogba in action on the Euro 2016 stage.
France will host the tournament and Pires said of Pogba: "He has a very important role.
"I don't want to say 'crucial' because I don't want to put him under pressure - although he handles pressure without a care - but he can be our engine."