Olivier Giroud, October 7, 2020 at the Stade de France.

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Francois Mori / AP / SIPA

  • Olivier Giroud scored twice against Ukraine and now has 42 goals for the France team.

  • The Chelsea striker overtakes Michel Platini, now in third place among the top scorers in French history.

  • Only Thierry Henry remains in front of him, with 51 goals, a number quite in his strings.

At the Stade de France,

There are articles that we could write by closing our eyes, and besides, it is late Wednesday evening, while we are waiting for Olivier Giroud in one of the basements of the homeless.

Imagine that the center-forward of the Blues is taking a souvenir photo with "Sheva", Ukraine coach and one of the great strikers of the early 2000s, for those who still have the age to go catch the Covid in the evening (stop playing idiots while you think about it).

Shevchenko, an idol of our national Giroud when he was a teenager, to whom he has already asked to sign a shirt for him when the former Blues player comes to Stamford Bridge to see his friends again.

... and all, in front of his (former) favorite player!

🤩🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/rHd8K44FvR

- French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) October 7, 2020

Henry's record in the sights

We didn't have time to ask the Jovto-Blakytni boss if he himself was a fan of the Blues' second top scorer.

Yes, second, since he passed the great Michel Platini (42 goals against 41), after having already skinned Trezeguet, Djorkaeff, or Zidane.

An exceptional strike from the left and a plunging header, it was settled at half an hour of play. The original Grenoblois, who scored his first pro goal against Mandanda, also on the pitch on Wednesday, succeeded in us surprise at the microphone after the match.

Of course, he spoke of his immense pride: "I was very moved to have the armband tonight, very honored, the coach gave me a nice gift and obviously this evening went as I could have. to dream ”, very well.

But Giroud remaining Giroud, he always adds the small detail that will fill the plumitif: Wednesday, it was us out that he blamed himself "for missing his head on the goal of Camavinga, but as the attackers say sometimes I take it too well.

Fortunately, I stayed focused and took my chance afterwards ”.

Small aside which says a lot of things, and first of all that Giroud knows how to think of him, although he denies it.

Against Ukraine, an opponent he knew was diminished, he had set himself to overtake Platini at all costs, even if it meant forgetting his friends a little, otherwise he would have been content to say that he was happy for the kid from Rennes, still stunning in the middle.

100 caps, 42 goals !!

Olivier Giroud becomes the 2nd top scorer in the history of the French Team #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/jufvGP4l3I

- French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) October 7, 2020

"If I stay on the same pace, I'm optimistic"

Don't go read what we haven't written.

The Blues striker was not personal, far from it, we were even surprised by his good "natural" understanding with Martial on one or two exchanges in the first half, but here it is, under his air of the type who is there to help, Giroud is a monster of ambition for himself.

He can tell you all his goals since he was 12, and he had to count like us that France can potentially play 20 games by July 2021 if they go to the Euro final.

This leaves him a little room to catch up with Henry and his 51 goals without forcing himself.

Incredible goal from Giroud!

for its 41st!

MAGNIFICENT 🔥 # FRAUKR pic.twitter.com/8hJArUM9ZQ

- ⭐🇫🇷⭐ ジ ェ レ ミ ー ❤🇯🇵❤ (@Ombrellito) October 7, 2020

"You know me, it is not at all me who will say that I am going to overtake another football legend that is Titi".

He says it anyway.

“Of course, if I stay on the same pace, 10 goals in the last 13 caps I think, I'm optimistic to get as close as possible to the record.

We are talking about 9 more goals to be scored.

"It's a lot when you go after the gardener and the photocopier guy in Chelsea, but you have to know how to resign yourself, sometimes: Giroud hovers above the low human contingencies, and he rejuvenates like Benjamin Button every time that we put him on the plane to Clairefontaine.

"He still has this will, bravo to him"

Deschamps: “I am very happy for Olivier, beyond his 100th selection.

He hasn't scored goals every time but he has always been very important for this France team.

He is one of the players who started the adventure in 2012 with me.

He still has this desire, this will, this character, so well done to him.

This is also why I gave him the armband this evening, it may be symbolic but I know that it is important for him.

I'm not going to give him or somebody else a present, he knows that.

“We also know that Giroud does not need it, since the time.

Tremble, Tweety.

Sport

France-Ukraine: Giroud and the Blues have a little feast against a very conciliatory opponent

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France - Ukraine: "It's going to be a special match for me" ... Giroud is jubilant on the eve of his 100th selection

  • Olivier Giroud

  • Soccer

  • French team

  • Didier Deschamps

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