Balloted in club, Olivier Giroud continues to be effective in selection. Against Iceland, he gave the victory to the French and scored his 37th goal in the tricolor jersey.
The France team has a foot in the final phase of the Euro-2020. After a complicated match, the Blues went on Friday (October 11th) to win a narrow victory in Iceland (1-0), thanks to a penalty scored by Olivier Giroud, and take the advantage to take a six-point advantage over their opponents of the evening.
The 33-year-old is not the official shooter. But, touched by the Icelandic Ari Skulason on the action that provokes the penalty, Antoine Griezmann was not able to hit him. "He put a crutch on me"said the FC Barcelona player after the match.
Apparently very decided, Giroud seized the ball and waited until the game resumes to deceive Hannes Halldorsson and enter the passage 37e goal in the French jersey. With this new achievement, it is only four short lengths of Michel Platini, second best French scorer in history.
#ISLFRA # EURO2020 0-1 (Giroud 66) Top 🔟 scorers 🇫🇷 51⚽️ @ThierryHenry 123👕 41⚽️ Platini 72👕 🔼 37⚽️ … https://t.co/FPRiLIyFmD
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The confidence of Deschamps
A few hours earlier, many wondered whether it was necessary to start the Chelsea striker. It must be said that his situation in the club is a bit alarming. Since the beginning of the season, he only played 191 minutes in the Blues jersey, and only 17 minutes since August 24th.
Despite this low play time and a possible lack of form of his striker, Didier Deschamps was reassuring at a press conference on Monday: "I know Olivier, his mind too. When he is on the field, the France team is more efficient. The situation is personally complicated for him. He has always been able to respond well to these situations. "
Once again, Giroud did not fail his coach. In its register, the French number 9 still delivered a very clean copy. In a sluggish match, he has long weighed on the opposing defense, playing his role of pivot, winning duels (ten, Friday night) and offering some good opportunities to his teammates.
"Olivier is an attacker with a particular profile, it is a point of support, he has a lot of strength, is very strong in deviations and discountsClément Lenglet explained at the start of the rally on Monday. It's never easy to defend on him, because when he puts his body in the surface it's hard to get around it. "
At the origin of the penalty
Antoine Griezmann could also have benefited from his deviations several times, but the goal escaped him for a few centimeters: he was initially offside (32e), before missing the frame on a nice volley (59e). On the penalty obtained by the Barcelona, it is still Giroud who is at the deviation, a few seconds earlier.
After a penalty earned by Griezmann, Olivier Giroud does not tremble and takes Halldórsson on the wrong foot. 37th goal so … https://t.co/vGNiUDpEqf
Didier Deschamps appreciated. The French coach has reserved a nice hug at the time of its release (78e), before paying tribute to him at a press conference: "I know what Olivier is capable of doing, replied the French coach, after the meeting. He did it tonight, despite little time to play. He scored a goal on a penalty that was decisive, one more for him. I did not ask myself the question, I knew he was going to start this game. For me it was logical. "
"Hyper useful"
Same feeling on the part of Clement Lenglet, who praises his work for the collective: "We are very happy for him, he works a lot, he was very useful for the team, it was a pleasure to see him happy after this goal. "
A goal that looked like a deliverance for Giroud and should help him retain a spot in the French attack against Turkey, Monday (20.45) for a second game in three days.
"The legs are fine, he assured after 78 minutes spent on the ground. They replied. I work a lot in Chelsea even though I have little time to play. I know my body, I'm 33 years old. That's right, there's nothing like competition, but I felt very good. If the coach needs me on Monday, I will be 100%. "
In front of Turkey, the Blues will have "A revenge to take", as the attacker says. In the first leg, in June, the Turks won 2-0. " We want to set the record straight ", warns Olivier Giroud.
