The striker has become a scapegoat but he remains an important member of
the squad and has a commendable scoring record when playing for Didier
Deschamps' side
In the space of 20 minutes of France’s comfortable 3-0 victory over
Scotland on Saturday, Olivier Giroud summed up the paradox he poses for
fans of Les Bleus as the country prepares for their attempt to win Euro
2016.
Shortly before the start of the match he finished his warm up
practising his shooting with Didier Deschamps’ assistant Guy Stephane.
There was nothing unusual about that, only the Arsenal man failed to
find the target with any of his efforts on the goal of Benoit Costil,
France’s third-choice keeper. As he fired the ball over and again,
fruitlessly seeking the net, he smiled ruefully as fans at Metz’ Stade
Saint-Symphorien looked on incredulous.
Everything changed when the real action started; within eight minutes
the 29-year-old had scored a cheeky flick from a Bacary Sagna cross.
Half an hour later he added a second, as he proved the outstanding
influence in France’s comfortable win.
Over the last three weeks, Giroud has run the gamut of emotions. In
Biarritz on May 17 he was part of a France team that was acclaimed in
the southern region, better known for its rugby and therefore rarely
seen by the national football team. But returning to Paris and the
subsequent trip to Nantes proved terrible for the attacker. Persistently
jeered, he became the scapegoat of the side – the price he has had to
pay because of Karim Benzema’s absence, which has been deemed
unjustified by a minority. Even his goal against Cameroon in a 3-2
success was accompanied by only moderate enthusiasm.
On Saturday morning though, the atmosphere was very different in
front of the team hotel in Metz, when he signed autographs for a group
of around 50 fans who had come to try and speak with their idols.
Nothing will change that fact that Giroud is a player set to divide
opinion. But his double at the weekend will offer the forward some
well-earned respite.
“It’s warmed my heart,” he admitted after the match. “But I never put
too much pressure on myself after what happened in Nantes. I know how
to distance myself from these things. It would be lying if if I said
that it didn’t affect me. But I have bounced back on the pitch, and
that’s the best response.”
Giroud’s most recent statistics with France are encouraging,
with seven goal in his last five starts. He has scored in all of those
matches, and only Karim Benzema can boast an equal record over the
course of the last 10 years. Against Scotland he celebrated his fourth
double for France in 49 matches; Benzema only has five in 81.
The No.9 has many supporters, too. Speaking to Sportmasta, Jerome Rothen, a Champions League finalist with Monaco in 2004, stated his belief that the forward’s record is formidable.
“In France and elsewhere there are always critics,” he said. “Certain
people feel that Benzema’s non-selection is due to Giroud, but even if
Benzema was there, Giroud would have been on the list, too.
“Maybe he’s paying for an average season at Arsenal, but with France
he’s always given everything, played well and scoring goals. What more
can you ask of him? Nothing. So those jeering must stop.
“For my part, I have confidence that he will continue to score goals
and transform this negative energy into something positive before
winning the public over. When you do that, there’s no sweeter victory.”
“Olivier has already responded to Nantes,” Deschamps said. “As
Patrice Evra said, the players are united. When there is one in
difficulty, they are all with him. Olivier was heckled, but that’s part
of the job. I’ve confidence in him and his team-mates, too.
The coach is conscious of what Giroud can bring to the team. He has a
unique profile among France’s attackers and on the field his link-up
play is very important. All of the wingers used at the weekend
systematically sought out Giroud to help them create breaches in the
Scottish defence. But as the centre forward, he must do more than
perform well with his back to goal; he must take chances, and against
Scotland he did that perfectly.
“Once again he proved that he’s very capable,” Sagna said. “Due to
the criticism he’s received it’s not always easy to see, but he’s
France’s forward.”
In the space of 20 minutes of France’s comfortable 3-0 victory over
Scotland on Saturday, Olivier Giroud summed up the paradox he poses for
fans of Les Bleus as the country prepares for their attempt to win Euro
2016.
Shortly before the start of the match he finished his warm up
practising his shooting with Didier Deschamps’ assistant Guy Stephane.
There was nothing unusual about that, only the Arsenal man failed to
find the target with any of his efforts on the goal of Benoit Costil,
France’s third-choice keeper. As he fired the ball over and again,
fruitlessly seeking the net, he smiled ruefully as fans at Metz’ Stade
Saint-Symphorien looked on incredulous.
Everything changed when the real action started; within eight minutes
the 29-year-old had scored a cheeky flick from a Bacary Sagna cross.
Half an hour later he added a second, as he proved the outstanding
influence in France’s comfortable win.
Over the last three weeks, Giroud has run the gamut of emotions. In
Biarritz on May 17 he was part of a France team that was acclaimed in
the southern region, better known for its rugby and therefore rarely
seen by the national football team. But returning to Paris and the
subsequent trip to Nantes proved terrible for the attacker. Persistently
jeered, he became the scapegoat of the side – the price he has had to
pay because of Karim Benzema’s absence, which has been deemed
unjustified by a minority. Even his goal against Cameroon in a 3-2
success was accompanied by only moderate enthusiasm.
On Saturday morning though, the atmosphere was very different in
front of the team hotel in Metz, when he signed autographs for a group
of around 50 fans who had come to try and speak with their idols.
Nothing will change that fact that Giroud is a player set to divide
opinion. But his double at the weekend will offer the forward some
well-earned respite.
“It’s warmed my heart,” he admitted after the match. “But I never put
too much pressure on myself after what happened in Nantes. I know how
to distance myself from these things. It would be lying if if I said
that it didn’t affect me. But I have bounced back on the pitch, and
that’s the best response.”
Giroud’s most recent statistics with France are encouraging,
with seven goal in his last five starts. He has scored in all of those
matches, and only Karim Benzema can boast an equal record over the
course of the last 10 years. Against Scotland he celebrated his fourth
double for France in 49 matches; Benzema only has five in 81.
The No.9 has many supporters, too. Speaking to Goal, Jerome Rothen, a Champions League finalist with Monaco in 2004, stated his belief that the forward’s record is formidable.
“In France and elsewhere there are always critics,” he said. “Certain
people feel that Benzema’s non-selection is due to Giroud, but even if
Benzema was there, Giroud would have been on the list, too.
“Maybe he’s paying for an average season at Arsenal, but with France
he’s always given everything, played well and scoring goals. What more
can you ask of him? Nothing. So those jeering must stop.
“For my part, I have confidence that he will continue to score goals
and transform this negative energy into something positive before
winning the public over. When you do that, there’s no sweeter victory.”
“Olivier has already responded to Nantes,” Deschamps said. “As
Patrice Evra said, the players are united. When there is one in
difficulty, they are all with him. Olivier was heckled, but that’s part
of the job. I’ve confidence in him and his team-mates, too.
The coach is conscious of what Giroud can bring to the team. He has a
unique profile among France’s attackers and on the field his link-up
play is very important. All of the wingers used at the weekend
systematically sought out Giroud to help them create breaches in the
Scottish defence. But as the centre forward, he must do more than
perform well with his back to goal; he must take chances, and against
Scotland he did that perfectly.
“Once again he proved that he’s very capable,” Sagna said. “Due to
the criticism he’s received it’s not always easy to see, but he’s
France’s forward.”
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