CLAIREFONTAINE - France's Karim Benzema said on Sunday the prospect of being one of the big attractions at Euro 2008 was not at all intimidating.

The 20-year-old striker, this season's revelation with 20 Ligue 1 goals for champions Olympique Lyon, told reporters he was not surprised to find himself about to play his first major tournament.

"This is normal, it's a logical step forward for me after the season I've had with Lyon," Benzema told reporters at France's training camp outside Paris.

"I'm confident," he added. "I know this is the highest level and it's up to me to show what I can do."

Benzema, who celebrated his first cap with a goal in a 1-0 win over Austria in March last year, has played just 10 internationals but has already become an automatic choice for coach Raymond Domenech.

An exciting mix of power and skill, Benzema, who helped Lyon to their first domestic League and Cup double this season, is likely to be preferred to Nicolas Anelka or newcomer Bafetimbi Gomis for a spot alongside Thierry Henry up front.

Domenech paired Benzema with Henry in attack in a 0-0 warmup draw with Paraguay on Saturday and is expected to do the same for the side's first match in the tournament, against Romania on June 9 in Zurich.

ADMIRES RONALDO

Not afraid of anything, Benzema would not mind being picked as well for France's other Group C matches against the Netherlands and Italy.

"To score in every match, that would be nice," said the determined son of Algerian immigrants, who admires Brazil's Ronaldo and grew up studying his every move.

Arguably the best player on the Toulouse pitch in the match against Paraguay, Benzema combined well with Henry and Franck Ribery and looked a permanent danger.

"I felt I played a good match, even if a goal is missing," he said.

"When you're surrounded by such great players as Thierry Henry or Franck Ribery, it makes it easy," he added. "They know how to set you up and make it all look simple."

A member of France's under-17 European championship-winning team in 2004, alongside playmaker Samir Nasri, Benzema knows he will be under the spotlight in the June 7-29 tournament in Austria and Switzerland and is keen to make the most of it.

"I know a lot is expected from me and I'll give it my very best to prove my worth," he said.