DOHA: From Raymond Kopa to Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane to Thierry Henry, France has produced some of football’s all-time greats, but Olivier Giroud needs just one more goal for Les Bleus to tower over all of his compatriots.
The giant 1.93m tall center-forward and 2018 World Cup winner equalled Henry’s record mark of 51 goals for the French national team by scoring twice in his country’s 4-1 win over Australia on Tuesday.
He had already long since left behind the likes of Platini, David Trezeguet, Jean-Pierre Papin and Just Fontaine, the striker who famously scored 13 times in one World Cup in 1958.
France’s oldest international goalscorer at the ripe old age of 36, Giroud has reached his tally in 115 appearances for his country, eight fewer than the number of caps obtained by Henry between 1997 and 2010.
“It is a source of pride, an honor,” Giroud said after his brace against Australia which saw him draw level with Henry as France began their defense of the World Cup.
“It makes you think about all the hard work I have put in to get here but also the superb teams I have played in.”
Now ready to go beyond Henry’s mark, he added: “Watch out ‘Titi’, I’m coming.”
Giroud’s performance against Australia has raised hopes that France can cope just fine in this World Cup without Karim Benzema, the Ballon d’Or winner who pulled out injured on the eve of the tournament.
After all they did just fine without Benzema four years ago in Russia, even if Giroud failed to score a single goal during the World Cup in Russia.
But there is a growing feeling that Didier Deschamps’ side might even be better off this time despite all the injuries in their squad, given the fruitful relationship that Giroud has developed of late with Kylian Mbappe.
Playing alongside Mbappe in the French attack must make AC Milan striker Giroud realize just how far he has come since his days as a lower-league forward who never seemed destined for the very top.
Mbappe was a World Cup winner at the age of 19. At the same age Giroud — from the Alpine town of Chambery — had only made a handful of appearances in the French second division for Grenoble.
Paris Saint-Germain superstar Mbappe is now hoping to win the greatest prize of them all for the second time while still aged just 23.
Giroud was 23 when he really started to make a name for himself in the professional game by finishing as Ligue 2’s top scorer with 21 goals for Tours.
Things accelerated from there, joining Montpellier and starring as they won the Ligue 1 title against all the odds in 2012, pipping a PSG side who had just been taken over by Qatar Sports Investments.
A move to the Premier League followed, with Giroud spending nine years in England, first with Arsenal and then Chelsea, before a switch to Serie A last year.
He won the Italian title at the first attempt with Milan and is now playing some of the best football of his career at a age when others are winding down toward retirement.
Giroud was first called up to the France squad by former coach Laurent Blanc in late 2011 and has gone on to become a fixture under Deschamps.
He is now at his third World Cup and his sixth major tournament.
Yet there was a spell late last year and earlier this year when, with Benzema back in the fold, Giroud was regularly left out of France squads and his international career seemed over.
Now very much back in Deschamps’ plans, he has scored five times in his last five appearances.
“Since I was recalled I have been determined to show that I am at 200 percent when playing for France,” he said.
“He is adored at the moment. All of France is delighted, so am I and so is Olivier,” said Deschamps this week of a player who if he scores against Denmark on Saturday will have no equal in France’s blue shirt, not even Henry.
Giroud ready to tower above French giants
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Giroud ready to tower above French giants
- The giant 1.93m tall centre-forward and 2018 World Cup winner equalled Henry's record mark of 51 goals for the French national team
- Giroud has reached his tally in 115 appearances for his country
Al-Ahli hand Al-Nassr first defeat of SPL campaign in Jeddah thriller
- Ronaldo fluffs his lines as league leaders beaten 3-2
- Win strengthens Al-Ahli’s hold on 4th place, just 6 points off top
RIYADH: Al-Ahli beat Al-Nassr 3-2 in a Saudi Pro League thriller in Jeddah on Friday night, handing Cristiano Ronaldo’s charges their first league defeat of the season.
Al-Ahli made a blistering start, needing just 59 seconds to threaten the Al-Nassr goal. Nawaf Al-Aqidi saved Wenderson Galeno’s initial effort before Matheus Goncalves blazed the rebound over the bar.
The hosts remained on the front foot, repeatedly exploiting the space behind right-back Sultan Al-Ghannam. That approach paid dividends in the seventh minute, when Galeno broke into space and squared the ball to Ivan Toney, who finished calmly to open the scoring.
Al-Ahli continued to target the same channel, with Galeno again involved as he laid the ball off to Ali Majrashi, whose effort drifted inches wide of the post.
Majrashi redeemed himself minutes later when a long ball, combined with a clever run from Toney, broke the Al-Nassr offside trap. The English striker confidently finished past Al-Aqidi in the 20th minute for his second goal of the night and his eighth of the league campaign.
By the half-hour mark, Al-Ahli were firmly in control, with Al-Nassr struggling to create any clear chances. That changed in the 30th minute when a bold long-range effort from center back Abdulelah Al-Amri was mishandled by goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, allowing the visitors to pull one back.
Momentum swung in Al-Nassr’s favor, although Saad Al-Nasser denied Feras Al-Brikan a potential third goal for Al-Ahli with a brave slide tackle on the edge of the six-yard box.
That missed opportunity proved costly, when on the brink of halftime Al-Amri rose highest to head home the equalizer.
Stoppage time brought further drama, as Al-Nassr went close at one end before Al-Ahli launched a swift counterattack and found Toney inside the box. The former Brentford striker struck the post to cap a thrilling first half.
The intensity was maintained in the second half, but it was Al-Ahli who regained the upper hand. A corner delivered to the far post in the 54th minute was met by Toney, who cleverly flicked the ball back into the danger area with his heel for Merih Demiral to score.
Al-Nassr were handed a golden opportunity to equalize just after the hour when Ronaldo found space in front of goal. But the league’s joint top scorer stumbled as he attempted to control the ball and the chance went begging.
Al-Ahli held firm through to the final whistle, although tempers flared deep into stoppage time.
Majrashi was shown a red card following a late scuffle, while Al-Nassr were also reduced to 10 when Nawaf Bu Washl was dismissed for denying Saleh Abou Al-Shamat a clear goalscoring opportunity as the last defender.
Elsewhere in the league, Georginio Wijnaldum inspired Al-Ettifaq to their fifth victory of the season with his second consecutive brace.
The Dutch midfielder opened the scoring in the 54th minute before converting from the spot in the 76th, leading The Commandos to a 2-0 win over Al-Okhdood and lifting them temporarily into seventh place on 19 points.
In the day’s third fixture, Samir Caetano’s stoppage-time equalizer earned Al-Najma their second point of the season in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Al-Khaleej.
The SPL action resumes on Saturday, with Al-Fateh hosting Al-Shabab, followed by Al-Fayha against Al-Kholood and Al-Ittihad versus Al-Taawoun.
