France coach Laurent Blanc deserves a contract extension despite Euro 2012 elimination, France forward Karim Benzema said Sunday.
Two goals from Xabi Alonso handed reigning champions Spain a 2-0 Euro 2012 victory over France in the quarterfinal Saturday, with France registering just one shot on target.
France arrived at Euro 2012 with a lengthy unbeaten run that ended after 23 games with a 2-0 group stage defeat to Sweden.
Blanc's contract expires after the tournament and he has said he wants to stay.
"I hope Blanc remains the head of the team. He knows all the players and we know his demands," Benzema said.
Blanc deserved praise for leading France out of a difficult group that also contained England and Ukraine, Benzema said.
Benzema, 24, has scored 15 times in 24 games for France since 2007, but failed to find the net at Euro 2012.
Blanc, 46, succeeded Raymond Domenech as France coach in 2010 on a two-year deal. He immediately dropped all 23 players from the 2010 World Cup squad for his first game as collective punishment.
