Didier Deschamps lauds "extraordinary" Karim Benzema

France manager Didier Deschamps has praised Karim Benzema for his displays at this year's World Cup.

The Real Madrid forward has scored three goals for his country at the tournament, but Deschamps believes that his all-round performances have been vital to his country's progress to the knockout stages.

"His moves throw off the opposition's defenders," Marca quotes him as saying. "He has extraordinary skills that improve the way the team plays.

"We have always seen his game as something far bigger than the goals, something that does not happen elsewhere."

France will face Nigeria in the last 16 of the World Cup next Monday.