BLUES – Giroud, inevitable, has always kept the Blues in mind

Here is Olivier Giroud again! No longer called to the France team since the failure of the Euro, the second top scorer in the history of the Blues (46 goals in 110 caps) was recalled on Saturday by Didier Deschamps to compensate for Karim Benzema’s package. Another comeback of which he has the secret, after nine years of uninterrupted selections, except for injury, until last September.

Regularly contested, the 35-year-old striker continues to shine at the top of the Italian Championship, with AC Milan, and still remains a recourse for « DD », deprived of the Real Madrid striker, hit in the left calf. Earlier in the week, at the microphone of Europe 1, Giroud assured, almost prescient: « I’m not talking about the France team in the past tense« . Events proved him right. He will be there for the friendly matches against Côte d’Ivoire, Friday in Marseille, and Tuesday, March 29 in Villeneuve-d’Ascq against South Africa.

« If the coach calls me, I will answer present as I have always done. That’s why I never officially declared that I wanted to stop the France team« , explained the AC Milan striker. It seemed good, however, that his adventure in Blue was coming to an end. Disappeared from the starting lineup with the return of « KB9 », after five years of estrangement with Deschamps. Giroud had even disappeared altogether from the lists after the Euro.

His last selection dated back to the disastrous round of 16 lost in Bucharest against Switzerland (3-3, 5 tab to 4). He came into play at the start of extra time (94th) in place of Benzema, and had transformed his shot on goal. Since then, DD repeated, like Thursday during the presentation of his list for these African friends, that Giroud « remains, as he knows, obviously selectable and available to the France team« .

For his part, the former Montpellier player kept the international form. At the Rossoneri, he never stopped scoring decisive goals, such as his double against Inter (2-1) in the Madonnina derby or during the shock in Naples (1-0) which reinforced the place of leader of his team. Giroud even eclipsed Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the hearts of « Milanist » tifosi. « He scores goals and that’s good for his club. Then I have choices to make. I know very well what Olivier is capable of“, had already commented Deschamps. Only to reproduce in selection to be seen well before the World Cup. What he has already done 46 times in Blue.