Curious relationship with France: The ever underestimated giant Olivier Giroud

When the great football nation of France talks about the best strikers of all time, many names are mentioned, but Olivier Giroud is rarely one of them.

Curious relationship with France: The ever underestimated giant Olivier Giroud

When the great football nation of France talks about the best strikers of all time, many names are mentioned, but Olivier Giroud is rarely one of them. The 36-year-old is now the country's most successful scorer. But why isn't he a top star?

The fact that Olivier Giroud scored twice in France's 4-1 win over Australia on Tuesday night is fuel for four, maybe five, big stories. The least spectacular is: Thanks to his brace - he scored 2-1 and 4-1 - a reigning champion was able to win his World Cup opening game for the first time since 2006. The "Équipe Tricolore" only looked briefly into the abyss when the score was 0-1 after nine minutes and Lucas Hernandez tore his cruciate ligament. France shook themselves lazily and ended up winning comfortably thanks to Giroud's goals 50 and 51 in the national team shirt.

This story is much more spectacular then. Because the storm giant is now, together with the legendary Thierry Henry, number one on the list of the most successful scorers in the Grande Nation. But in terms of public perception in the country, Henry and Giroud are worlds apart. Henry is a hero. Giroud a man they can't relate to very much. In 2016 he was even booed at the home European Championship. Like Henry, he became world champion. Four years ago in Russia.

The wildest discussions flared up about his share of this title. He was in the starting XI six times - he didn't fire a single shot on goal. A staggering record for a striker. France was amazed at the loyalty of national coach Didier Deschamps - who praised the work of his giant, who put the balls down well. Til today. "The players benefit from his presence," praised coach Deschamps, who repeatedly puts his trust in Giroud. With eleven goals and the championship with AC Milan, Giroud had played himself back into focus after a long dry spell. Against Australia he rose behind the legendary Roger Milla at 36 years and 53 days to become the second oldest World Cup double in history.

Now in Qatar things have changed. First game, two goals. And with it the sorrows of an entire nation. It was close to depression when Karim Benzema, world footballer, had to resign injured shortly before the tournament. This Benzema, who played so brilliantly at Real Madrid and slammed the door to the "Ballon d'Or" again for Robert Lewandowski and who once mocked Giroud. Benzema, who had not been included in the "Équipe Tricolore" for a long time because of the sex video affair, pestered via Instagram in March 2020 that he acknowledged that Giroud was of some use because he was not afraid to "in the coal cellar work." The comparison between him and his successor is like comparing "Formula 1 with a go-kart" to make it clear: "I know that I am Formula 1."

Now the self-proclaimed French assault car has a defect - it is not possible to continue. And so Giroud has to go again, this guy who was never able to become a celebrated star at home. He has everything that a good heroic story needs. A sporty resurrection, a clear attitude. In Qatar, in the escalated debate about "One Love" and the rainbow, it seems even more valuable than ten years ago. At that time, Giroud had been photographed shirtless for the cover of the homophile magazine "Tetu". As the father of two explained, he wanted to change something about the "perspectives and mentalities".

Ten years later, the world is once again showing Giroud in a very shocking way how far the road still is - even if the emirate has now announced that it will lift the crackdown on rainbow paraphernalia. But back to Giroud, who knows a lot about it. In 2005 he rose from the youth of Grenoble Foot in the second division squad - but could not prevail. His coach Mehmed Baždarević attested to him not having a format for the 1st and 2nd leagues. Giroud didn't want to believe that, he went on loan via the third division. At FC Istres, his arduous rise began - with plenty of goals. The journey to Montpellier continued via FC Tours (again second division), where he benefited from coach Daniel Sanchez. In the second year, the 2011/12 season, he was not only the top scorer in the league, but also shot the HSC to the championship with 21 goals.

Giroud had arrived where hardly anyone had seen him. And it wasn't the end of his journey, it was rather the beginning. The start of an international top career that somehow always stayed under the radar of the industry giants. He scored 109 goals for Arsenal (in 253 games) and 39 for Chelsea (in 119 games). And his current employer, AC Milan, also has a high quota, 23 goals in 57 duels. What distinguished him everywhere and also made it so important for France: he repeatedly prepared numerous success stories for his teammates. Perhaps it is this trait of letting himself shine less than letting others shine that puts him in the shadow of the big storm egos?

Former teammate Robert Pires once described the nature of the storm giant as follows: "He withstands all storms, even a force five hurricane, because he is firmly rooted in the ground. He knows his strengths, his weaknesses and has no problem with them, not to be appreciated by anyone." Giroud, said the Frenchman Pires, who played together for Arsenal, plays powerfully and efficiently, has his sights set on his goals and "if he's criticized, he accepts it, but always with a nice smile."

The constant criticism from home does not go unnoticed. "To be honest, it's a bit boring. It's the story of my career. People have been questioning me for years," Giroud confessed to the "Daily Mail" five years ago. At some point you stop listening, "especially when you're doing your job on the pitch." He's doing it again. He's one goal away and then he's the best goalscorer his country has ever produced. "I don't know if I'm in my best shape, but it's true that I feel good. I don't intend to stop here," says Giroud before the second World Cup game against Denmark on Saturday (5 p.m. on ntv. de live ticker). It smells like material for the next wonderful stories in the career of the so often overlooked storm giant.