The hug stretches out for a few seconds, as if the two men feel the need to, as a sign of mutual respect.
Tuesday evening when leaving the field, replaced by Wissam Ben Yedder, Olivier Giroud was warmly congratulated by Didier Deschamps on the edge of the lawn before receiving congratulations from a whole happy staff as well.
In the locker room of the Pierre Mauroy stadium, the 35-year-old world champion took advantage of every moment with his partners, he who had no longer experienced this feeling with the France team due to his sidelining of the group. since the Euro and elimination in the round of 16 against Switzerland.
At the end of this March rally, with two goals on the clock (he is only three points away from Thierry Henry), encouraging performances and a unique profile,
the Milanese took full advantage of the absence of Karim Benzema to remember the good memories of his coach.
Difficult to imagine after this sequence of not seeing the former striker of Chelsea, Arsenal or Montpellier and Tours being called up again with the Blues for the deadline next June.
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: Deschamps lets loose (a little) in the locker room of the Blues
Olivier Giroud with Paul Pogba PASCAL ROSSIGNOL / REUTERS
“
I had a discussion with him as with many, on the present
, confided Deschamps Tuesday evening on the Giroud case, which necessarily makes a lot of talk.
The future, he doesn't know, I don't know, it will depend on a lot of things.
He confirmed that he had this ability to score.
It's very good for him and the group, we'll see for the month of June
.
That March rally confirmed two things.
By his profile and his statistics, Olivier Giroud is essential in the selection.
In the hierarchy, Wissam Ben Yedder, summoned before Giroud on this sequence, had to settle for the crumbs, not starting any meeting.
The question: "Will Deschamps summon Giroud in June?"
gave way to another.
“How can Deschamps not recall the second best scorer in the history of the Blues?
".
Olivier Giroud claims to have digested his change of status
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At 35, the main interested party knows that he is relegated behind the three cadors that are Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann and he has proven in the past, especially in club, that he can adapt to a role of "super replacement".
A brave soldier, but also endowed with a champion's ego, he repeats behind the scenes to his relatives his desire to participate in a third and last World Cup, with a different status from 2018. To glean a new title and why not win the national goalscoring record.
Olivier Giroud and Didier Deschamps in training FRANCK FIFE / AFP
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The episode of the Euro is largely behind him.
Digested.
And like the whole of the France group, he was surprised at the late recall of Karim Benzema.
With the consequences that we know.
His sidelining of more than nine months, made him understand that his history in selection, started in November 2011 against the United States with Laurent Blanc in office.
Touched and upset, he took refuge in work with AC Milan, to the point of playing for the title in Serie A with important goals, without ever giving up the French team.
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In the hierarchy of the attackers of the selection, it clearly appears as a credible alternative in the event of physical glitches or misforms of the holders announced.
For Deschamps too since the latter places him ahead of Ben Yedder, whose place in the selection proves to be weakened after this rally.
Anthony Martial, a time in Blue, no longer appears in the table for the moment.
Kylian Mbappé and Olivier Giroud on Tuesday against South Africa.
JB Autissier / PANORAMIC
“When I'm on the field, I always try to bring a little something extra.
I'm happy, it's good for the future.
We are getting closer to Titi.
This record, yes, I have it in my head but it's not an obsession.
If I have to pass, I pass.
I think first of all of the collective and the good of the group.
It will come by itself”
Olivier Giroud
“
Another goal is good
, savored the AC Milan player at the microphone of the FFF on Tuesday evening.
When I'm on the pitch, I always try to bring a little something extra.
I'm happy, it's good for the future.
We are getting closer to Titi.
This record, yes, I have it in my head but it's not an obsession.
If I have to pass, I pass.
I think first of all of the collective and the good of the group.
It will come by itself
.
A model employee's speech which also testifies to the lessons learned by Giroud.
Deschamps would not forgive him in any case for a new exit from the road.
A reminder in June could dissipate the last gray areas on this important subject in the life of the selection.
Four matches on the program in less than a fortnight, high-stakes meetings with a title to defend in the League of Nations and the possibility of seeing how Olivier Giroud digests his new status with the return of Karim Benzema.
It is up to the coach to show tact and psychology so that all these little people pull in the same direction and find satisfaction.
With a trio of fire lined up from the start and a hungry "super sub" on the bench during the World Cup, the table would really look good.
It's up to "DD" to decide.
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