Hardcover Giroud strikes again as France beats Iceland

PARIS (Reuters) – Olivier Giroud once again proved his reliability for France by scoring his 35th international goal as the world champions demolished Iceland 4-0 at home in their second qualifying match for France. Euro 2020, Monday.

Giroud, now only third overall scorer in France, added to the opening of Samuel Umtiti in the second half, before Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann complete a routine victory to give six points to France in group H. -1 victory over Moldova.

Turkey became France's main rival in the group after beating Moldova 4-0 thanks to a brace Cenk Tosun after beating Albania 2-0 last Friday.

Albania has three points, similar to Iceland, after being imposed 3-0 away against Andorra.

Iceland, which has won only one of its last 17 games, played aggressively, but that was not enough to destabilize Les Bleus.

Didier Deschamps trusted the same 11 players who started against Moldova and his team made a perfect start. The center-center Umtiti scored for the center of Mbappe after 12 minutes.

Giroud with a powerful header, Mbappe with a low shot on goal and Benjamin Pavard with a long-range half-volley approached before the break, but Iceland was still a threat.

French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was saved from Birkir Bjarnbadon four minutes after the break, which served as a wake up call.

Giroud, who has now scored one more goal than David Trezeguet, gave France the advantage when he deflected a center from Pavard into the net in the 68th minute.

Only Thierry Henry (51) and Michel Platini (41) scored more goals with Les Bleus than Giroud (89).

The Chelsea striker, who has never defeated all French fans, was denied a goal by a goal.

France added a third goal when Mbappe beat Hannes Halldorsson with a right-foot effort after being settled by Griezmann in the 78th minute for his 12th goal in 30 appearances.

Griezmann saluted Iceland's injuries as he rushed into the box before finding the back of the net with a low shot six minutes from the end.