He dragged this reputation of world champion on his back for a long time without the slightest goal.
In 2018, Olivier Giroud ran a lot, fixed a lot, as soon as he could, put away, a lot, but without ever shaking the nets.
This image of the scorer without statistics had made its way to the point of giving birth to a falsehood among some.
The former Gunners and Blues striker, now at AC Milan, would never have scored in the World Cup.
This is of course false.
In Brazil, eight years ago, he participated in the tricolor festival against Switzerland (5-2) in the group stage, scoring and providing an assist.
This Tuesday evening, this heresy disappeared forever in the sky of Doha.
Olivier Giroud, 36, scored a historic double.
Eleven years and eleven days after his first selection, at the Stade de France against the United States, he is now the equal of Thierry Henry, at the top of the ranking of scorers for the France team.
51 goals for 51 shades of an extraordinary striker, as prestigious as he is incomparable.
Nothing is ever guaranteed with him, but it often ends well
This man is a believer who likes to say he believes.
True to his principles, he thanks heaven after the fiftieth.
Hands in the air, knees on the ground after what will not remain as his finest action.
Giroud only has to push Adrien Rabiot's offering with his right foot.
Read alsoOlivier Giroud before France-Australia at the 2022 World Cup: "I could not imagine such a destiny"
50th minute, we believe the double is falling from the skies.
Giroud opens the trunk of the "zlataneries" because yes, he too has a bunch of keys.
Unfortunately, after a caviar from Hernandez, his returned scissor brushes the right post.
The light will come 20 minutes later on a cross from Mbappé.
His perfect head fools Ryan.
As a symbol, before celebrating this goal that he does not know like the others, he must still recover from a nasty nudge from an opponent.
Nothing is ever taken for granted with this man, but it often ends well.
A jewel with or without a balloon
Giroud will have had only three days to put himself in the shoes of a holder, after having long believed not to even be on the trip.
A phoenix of his caliber has already had a worse time to rise from the ashes.
“I never gave up, never let go, he will say at the microphone of TF1.
I wrote a biography called Always Believe.
You have to take refuge in work and believe in better days.
“About this second goal which allows him to equal Thierry Henry, he remains humble:” It was an ideal evening for me, but especially for the collective.
Matching Thierry Henry is a source of immense pride.
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Relive the third goal of the French team against Australia by Kylian Mbappé 🔥#FRAAUS https://t.co/XrAYA9bPty
— TF1 (@TF1) November 22, 2022
Rabiot's first goal also reminded us of the invisible strength of this lord of the air.
They are two Socceroos defenders trying to neutralize him before the ball reaches the Turin midfielder.
On the eve of the match, an Australian journalist reminded his French colleagues of the obvious.
“You lose Benzema, but you have Giroud to cover you”.
There are truths that are good to repeat, and untruths good to bury forever.
To the great men the homeland of football grateful.