Called to compete in the Euro, Olivier Giroud is experiencing his last competition with the France team. The future Los Angeles FC striker will start the tournament as a substitute. But his competitor Marcus Thuram received a serious warning.
Olivier Giroud knows the identity of his successor in the France team. In the mind of coach Didier Deschamps, it is Marcus Thuram who completes the attacking trio with Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. “ He’s an Interist, so not easy for me “, joked the striker at the end of his contract at AC Milan, ready to share his experience with the Nerazzurro before his international retirement. But his altruism will not prevent him from regaining his place if the opportunity arises.
Giroud tackles L’Equipe
“ What if I want to overturn the table? Obviously I prefer to be on the groundreplied the future recruit of Los Angeles FC. I prefer to start the matches obviously. But I respect the coach’s choices. When I enter the field, I will do my best. At the time L’Equipe asked me the question. We’re going to settle the scores (he smiles). It was my debut, I lacked experience and I naively said: “of course I prefer to be a starter.” It’s logical, you don’t come to polish the bench for your entire career. And there they headlined the next day “I want to be number 1”. So what do you want me to tell you? »
“ Yes I want to be number 1, obviously I prefer to play matches as a starter. But that doesn’t change my competitive mindset if the coach doesn’t line me up from the start. If I can reverse the trend during the competition, because I feel combative and ready to give the maximum for the team, I will do it, believe me. I’m far from being in a more cool, relaxed state of mind and in a secondary role. I am the same, I am determined. That’s what I’m here for », Warned the top scorer in the history of the Blues (57 goals), who timidly admits his goal of reaching the 60-unit mark.
