He may be France’s joint-record goalscorer with Thierry Henry, but Graeme Souness reckons Olivier Giroud is lucky to be in such illustrious company. And Ally McCoist agreed…eventually.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker led the line for France in their World Cup clash with Denmark, knowing a goal would take him out in his own as les Bleus’ best ever marksman. However he’ll have to wait after being subbed following Kylian Mbappe’s opening goal for Didier Deschamps’ side.
ITV pundit Souness talked down Giroud ’s numbers before the game however, insisting he’d only racked up so many goals due to Karim Benzema’s absence from the national set up for many years. The former Rangers boss reckons the Ballon d’Or winner is on another level to Giroud and wasn't having comparisons with Henry despite their shared honour. McCoist didn't necessarily agree before the match. But when Giroud got in Mbappe’s way with a bizarre run in the second half, McCoist cheekily conceded: “Graeme was right!”
Souness had earlier said on TV: “I’m not his biggest fan, ‘I’m just not. Seven games in the last World Cup, he’s a centre-forward in the team that wins it, he’s not had a shot on target. I think he’s very lucky. When you mention him in the same breath as Thierry Henry, I’m sorry…
“I would say his record is there for one reason and one reason only: Karim Benzema being out for such a long time, all the controversy he was involved in.
Benzema, the current Ballon d’Or winner, will be missed by the French team in this tournament if they go deep. Benzema is on another level [to Giroud], that’s the point I’m making.
“The goalscoring record again… Apart from Benzema being out, the other [reason is because of] the amount of games the French team play in all these daft competitions.”
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