Benzema fit for Bosnia

France’s selection problems deepened yesterday when three strikers were ruled out of Tuesday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Bosnia, but Real Madrid attacker Karim Benzema was passed fit.

Benzema, 22, missed Friday’s shock 1-0 defeat at home to Belarus but coach Laurent Blanc said yesterday that he had recovered from his right ankle injury.

Benzema’s recovery is good news for Blanc as he will be without strikers Loic Remy (groin), Louis Saha (calf) and Guillaume Hoarau (shoulder), after they all injured themselves against Belarus.

Lyon forward Jimmy Briand has been called up as a replacement, but Lorient’s Kevin Gameiro, who made his debut against Belarus, is now the only other fit striker.

Playmaker Yoann Gourcuff is serving a two-game ban after being sent off at the World Cup, while Samir Nasri, Hatem Ben Arfa, Lassana Diarra and Yohan Cabaye are all injured or short of full fitness.