Former Arsenal and Premier League forward Olivier Giroud is proving himself to be ‘the most complete’ centre-forward at the Qatar World Cup, former France international David Trezeguet tells RMC Sport.
It’s not often you can say that an injury to your Ballon D’Or winning number nine is a positive development.
But there’s a nagging feeling that, if Karim Benzema had been fit to take part in Qatar, perhaps Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus side would not be going into the semi-finals as clear tournament favourites.
Giroud, starting in Benzema’s place, has scored four times en route to the last-four, including the winner against England on Saturday. What’s more, while the Benzema-Mbappe-Griezmann trio has often looked a little disjointed, Giroud is the industrial-strength superglue that holds this France attack together.
Not only does he possess a prolific record in international football (overtaking Thierry Henry to become France’s all-time record goalscorer), his outstanding link play and intelligence also makes the one-time Arsenal and Chelsea targetman the perfect foil for a revitalised Griezman and arguably the planet’s finest footballer, Mbappe.
FORMER ARSENAL STRIKER OLIVIER GIROUD COULD WIN ANOTHER WORLD CUP WITH FRANCE
“There really aren’t any (strikers like Giroud) anymore,” sighs Trezeguet, who scored the winner for France in the Euro 2000 final against Italy.
“Germany have suffered a lot without a centre-forward. The Netherlands and others have a clear idea without a centre-forward. It is difficult to explain. We saw Spain, who lacked efficiency. Either there was (Alvaro) Morata or there was nothing.
“There is beauty, the technical side but you have to finish the job. And Giroud seems to me to be the most complete in this competition.”
Fittingly for a man born in the Savoie region of France, 36-year-old Giroud continues to age like the finest of wines, five years after leaving Arsenal in an £18 million deal.
A second World Cup winners’ medal, and potentially a Golden Boot too, would undoubtedly be the pinnacle of a truly remarkable career.
‘UNDERRATED IN ENGLAND’
“When he first came to Arsenal in pre-season of 2012 we were like; ‘Woah, who’s this guy?’,” former Gunners team-mate Jack Wilshere tells The Sun.
“Nobody had really heard of him. But he was a big presence in the dressing room and a good-looking bloke who was first at everything. He was first in the gym scores, won every race, and was totally ripped. He was in some shape.
“(Giroud is) underrated in England. He’s a proper striker. 73 Premier League goals for Arsenal before moving to Chelsea. And one thing he always had was great self-belief. He backed himself to succeed, no matter what anyone said.
“He got better and better and kept going, which says a lot about someone’s personality.”
France will take on surprise packages Morocco on Wednesday with a place in the final on the line. They will face either Argentina in the final, or Croatia in a re-match of that 2018 clash in Moscow.
