France team: will we see Olivier Giroud in blue again?

Stop or again?

Olivier Giroud, 120 selections, 53 goals, has started thinking about his future in the France team, but he has not yet recorded the end of the adventure.

The 36-year-old striker says he is still at the disposal of Didier Deschamps, even if he has not been insensitive to recent announcements from Steve Mandanda, and especially from his great friend Hugo Lloris, who have both decided to end their international career after the World Cup.

"I'm continuing for now," he said in an interview with Canal Football Club on Sunday.

It did something to me to see Hugo stop after spending all these years together.

Our relationship was special.

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While a rally is planned for March, with two games against the Netherlands and Ireland as part of the qualifiers for Euro 2024, the AC Milan striker is not closing the door.

“Anything can happen, guarantees the striker.

From the moment I have not announced my international retirement, I am selectable.

First of all, I have to ask myself if I really, deep down, still want to wear this blue jersey.

You know how important it is to me.

That's why I take my time to make my decision.

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The native of Chambéry does not want to rush things.

He has never hidden his attachment to the France team which has been the common thread of his career.

An adventure made grand by the title of world champion in 2018 and his status as top scorer in the history of the Blues, ahead of Thierry Henry (51 goals).

Following Karim Benzema's package, he crossed the World Cup in the short of a holder.

Who could have predicted such a trajectory after the last failure at the Euro?

A single profile

“Disappointed and surprised” to be replaced before half-time in the final of the Argentina final, Olivier Giroud has in him the features of the phoenix which systematically rises from its ashes.

But, with advancing age, several questions remain unanswered.

But even if Didier Deschamps is to project himself on Euro 2024, his unique profile leaves opportunities for Giroud to be called up again, while Benzema has sent the message that he will not return.

Giroud is a real pivot, both storage and surface fox.

Randal Kolo Muani, Marcus Thuram or Christopher Nkunku cannot be used in this way while Elye Wahi or Amine Gouiri still have a long way to go to integrate the A's. There remains the option of refocusing Kylian Mbappé.

The Parisian played part of the final in the axis against Argentina (3-3, 4-2 pens),

on December 18, but we know his preference when he starts from the left.

Nobody, moreover, has forgotten his release in September, where he said he had "more freedom" in selection with "a number 9 like Oliv who occupies the defenses".

It's hard to believe that Deschamps skipped it too...