Soccer-Out-of-favour Benzema wants showdown with Deschamps

PARIS, March 23 (Reuters) - Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has asked France coach Didier Deschamps for an explanation on why he was not selected for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg. Benzema had been indefinitely banned from the France team after being charged with conspiracy to blackmail in a sextape scandal involving team mate Mathieu Valbuena, but the ban was lifted last September. However, he has been left frustrated after not being picked for Saturday's trip to Luxembourg and next week's friendly against Spain. "I find it unfair because I did not have any explanation. I am a man and I'd like an explanation on why I haven't been called up," Benzema told French radio RMC on Thursday. "What I would like is to have a conversation with the coach, so that he can tell me what he thinks, I have to know." (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)