French team. Giroud in weightlessness – World Cup

Olivier Giroud is an attacker who does not score anymore. But an attacker (finally) happy in blue. Calmed and, currently, spared criticism. "His obstacle course" could lead him to the end of the world …

The center-forward of the Blues did not score in this World Cup. His famine lasts for seven games with the friendly against the United States and Italy, but Olivier Giroud has never had so much peace in the French team! It is no longer spoken of Benzema, whose name was not pronounced Sunday in a press conference.

The attacker of 31 years appeared appeased, relaxed on the platform. He had his best time in blue, "it's possible," he said after taking the time to think. In any case, the look on him is light. Giroud plays the role of "big brother", as he says, and he is no longer accused of being less talented, less spectacular than his little brothers.

His benching against Australia played for him. His absence was more harmful to the Blues on June 16 in Kazan than his lack of goal since he regained his place. "It's when he's not here that we realize its usefulness," said Didier Deschamps that night. The evening when Giroud returned to the center of the game.

The dirty job

His play of support, of deflection, his races to attack and to defend, precious in the quarter-final against Uruguay, balance the together. Serving soloists around him. "He does, in quotation marks, the dirty work," complimented Kylian Mbappé after the first warm-up match against Ireland (2-0). The young Parisian would have put Dembélé by his side rather than Giroud, but the first is less essential to the good French market …

But Giroud did not score? "I open holes, I'm involved on three goals, argues the person. But I hope that my turn will come. Twenty years ago, the center-forward of the Blues had finished the weaned World Cup. "Yes, Guivarc'h did not score, Dugarry only one goal … If we are world champion, I will have nothing to do," says Giroud, who hopes another destiny. If I have the opportunity … "The career of Guivarc'h changed size after July 12, 98. But the Breton drags an eternal regret, an irreparable lack that recalls him every four years. Giroud has not missed anything this summer despite seven shots.

Thibaut, "Titi" and Olivier

Giroud, 79 caps, the team's four-time tied with Zidane (31), will leave a trace in the history of the Blues. And, above all, Giroud has not finished his second World Cup, which will surely be the last (36 years in 2022). "I enjoy, I may not repeat it," admits the striker Chelsea who checked on July 10 against Belgium.

He knows the guard well: "You can ask Thibaut (Courtois), he took some goals in training! He is very familiar with the second badistant coach, Thierry Henry. Glory of Arsenal, and television critic of Giroud at the Gunners. "He went back on his statements, and it's been several years. I do not feel revenge. In this job (consultant), it had to be incisive. But I would be proud to show Titi that he chose the wrong camp. Like all those who, one day or more, criticized Giroud.