NARRATIVE – The 36-year-old striker, author of 52 goals in the jersey of the France team, is deciphered by his wife, his manager, former coaches and players.
Special Envoy to Doha
36 years. 117 selections. And now 52 goals which make him the top scorer in the history of the France team. In front of the myths that are Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane or even Thierry Henry. Impossible not to salute the immensity of the feat accomplished by Olivier Giroud, scorer Sunday evening against Poland (3-1) in the round of 16 of the World Cup.
Nothing predestined this slender attacker with a bumpy career (Grenoble, Istres, Tours, Montpellier, Arsenal, Chelsea, AC Milan), who only experienced his first selection at the age of 25 in 2011, for such an accomplishment. Before a new challenge for him and the Blues against England on Saturday (8 p.m.), for a place in the last four, his relatives testify to his longevity.
Jennifer Giroud, his wife: “He will do a Zlatan and play until he is 40”
«This record means so much to him: it’s an honor, a pride and an accomplishment. But Olivier remains an altruist, he knows that he can only build himself in the collective. That’s what he loves about football…
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