With each of his speeches, he knows that certain questions lie in wait for him.
And he did not fail to answer them.
In a broad interview given to the newspaper L'Equipe, on the sidelines of the release of the enriched version of his biography, “Always believe it” (published in September 2020), Olivier Giroud was notably invited to return to the Euro, his clash with Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema and his future in the France team.
If he admits that he learned of the return of Benzema at the same time as all the French, Olivier Giroud slips that he would have "appreciated being warned, that he (
Didier Deschamps
) warns certain executives".
“It was the coach's will to proceed like that.
He preferred that it not be heard.
I can understand it.
"
Read alsoEuro 2021: Olivier Giroud "experienced the return of Karim as something positive"
Because for him, the late arrival of the Madrilenian (and this is in "nothing against Karim", he wishes to clarify) "created a tactical imbalance at the level of the team and in our way of playing". “We have noticed that in certain matches. The France team was able to overcome this problem of tactical adaptation long afterwards. We have seen it especially with the League of Nations. But it took a long time. Despite himself, Karim quickly changed our way of playing which had been well established with certain offensive profiles for five years. The mayonnaise could not take overnight especially before a competition like the Euro. There are affinities and tactical benchmarks to be found. We don't have the same profile either. "
Before the competition, off the field, it was yet Olivier Giroud who had drawn the spotlight on him with a poorly controlled exit, experienced as an attack by Kylian Mbappé. “We quickly explained the same evening with Kylian in his room, he clarified. It was the forty-eight hour story and then we moved on. "
Since the end of the Euro, Olivier Giroud (110 selections, 46 goals) has not been recalled in Blues by the coach.
“I do not know if I will be the person who will say, one day, I stop the France team, he specifies however.
From the moment I am selectable, the coach knows that I am there if he needs me (...) The Blues are only happiness.
I have no bitterness or the need to tell myself that I must come back at all costs.
"Looking in the retro, he knows what he has accomplished:" I am already very proud to have been able to overcome legends like Zidane, Platini, Papin or Trezeguet and to be in the very closed circle of centenarians (. ..) I have contributed my stone to the building through all these beautiful years and this world title (...) What more could I have accomplished?
"