This image, we have already seen it. Already lived, over and over again. It has even become a classic of French football. A center. A headbutt. A goal from Olivier Giroud. Friday, at the Vélodrome, as in other stadiums in France and elsewhere, the man with 47 goals for the France team recalled the good memories of those who buried him one day. This achievement, which brings him a little closer to Thierry Henry, allowed the Blues not to doubt for too long. Led three minutes and quickly back on track, the world champions ended up beating Côte d’Ivoire (2-1) in a friendly match.
For Olivier Giroud, revenge is sweet. Almost usual. Away from the France team since the end of the Euro and pointed out by Didier Deschamps, the Milanese returned to the Blues thanks to the injury of Karim Benzema and has already marked the gathering of his footprint. Did he score any points? There is the question. And, on Friday, Didier Deschamps’ response was not absolutely clear.
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“Naturally, I’m happy for him and for the team, replied Didier Deschamps at a press conference. Even when he was with us and it didn’t work as well at club level, he still had this ability to be good and decisive. Friday, he could have increased his counter even more, he found the group and it is very good for the whole.“
He deserved this opportunity
It’s very good but it doesn’t change much to the case, it seems. Didier Deschamps just knows that his striker is unsinkable and responds when called upon. But that he already knew. For ten years that he has been at the head of the selection, the boss of the Blues has no longer any doubt on this subject. His mistrust does not concern the field, but the side.
Monday, during the first media meeting of the rally, he spoke at length about the Giroud equation, which is not the easiest to solve. To call him to confine him to the bench is to take a risk, in essence. Without guarantee from Olivier Giroud, Deschamps will prefer to ignore.
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After the victory against Côte d’Ivoire, the former OM coach did not want to comment on the subject. Nor draw a plan on the comet. “I am not here to revive the debates, I trust you to continue the existing ones, Deschamps defended himself. I don’t create problems for myself, I try to be consistent in what I say to the players. And I’m not putting Olivier on for things to go wrong… We’ll see what happens next. There, it’s very good, for him, and the whole group.“
Hugo Lloris, captain of the Blues and close to the former Arsenal striker, was more playful. “I believe he deserved this opportunity. He grabbed it. Olivier has a history in blue and it’s not just anyone. The attack is a sector with a lot of talent and different profiles. Afterwards, the choices belong to the coach but we know what he can bring to the team.” No need to be a great cleric to imagine what he would do if the choice was up to him.
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