France’s players attend a training session at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, yesterday. Pictures: AFP
Frenchman Olivier Giroud has set two targets for himself in Qatar – to help the injury-hit Les Bleus retain their World Cup title and become an all-time leading scorer for France breaking Thierry Henry’s goal record.
The defending champions arrived in Doha on Wednesday night, hoping to become the first side to successfully defend its World Cup title since Brazil in 1962.
But the Didier Deschamps’ side will miss key players in their title defence, with midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, who helped the side triumph in Russia, not part of the squad due to injuries.
Forward Christopher Nkunku and defender Presnel Kimpembe were the latest casualties for Deschamps, who is hoping for his best central defender Raphael Varane to be fit from an injury before France’s opening game against Australia on November 22.
Amid fears for the fitness of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, a lot of onus can fall on veteran forward Giroud, who has come to Qatar after a fine run with AC Milan.
Giroud, 36, is featuring in the third World Cup and he hopes to improve his performance in the tournament with just one goal to his name in the 12 matches.
Kylian Mbappe (left) and Olivier Giroud during a training session yesterday. AFP
He failed to score in Russia four years ago when Kylian Mbappe-inspired France became the champions for the second time after their triumph in 1998.
The forward scored his only World Cup goal in Brazil in 2014.
“Yes, I scored one in 2014 and a few at the 2016 Euros. It’s important for the team to score. I’ll give it my 200% for the team,” Giroud told reporters ahead of France’s training session at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Al Sadd yesterday.
The AC Milan forward was relishing his third World Cup appearance, saying winning back-to-back titles would be “amazing”.
“For me it’s kind of a blessing to have the opportunity to play for my country in a third World Cup,” he said.
“To win one World Cup is obviously such a big a childhood dream. To get a second one would be amazing. As a competitor I have no limits and I am still hungry. We would first try to get far and get closer to the win,” he said.
Giroud, who has scored 49 goals, is just two goals away from Henry’s record of 51 goals for France.
“Of course I have this target in my head to beat ‘Titi’ (Henry) but the main one is as a team, to go as far as we can in the competition,” he said.
The head of French Football Federation, Noel Le Graet (left) speaks with Paris Saint-Germain’s President Nasser Al Khelaifi during France’s training session. AFP
The former Arsenal striker said he is yet to see the Australian squad but said the Socceroos will be a tough nut to crack in France’s opening match at the Al Janoub Stadium.
“I don’t know if we they have the same squad of 2018. We will watch their videos to prepare. They are good team with talented players and a lot of their players play for Europe. It was a difficult side in 2018,” said Giroud, while referring to France’s opening match against Australia in 2018 which they won 2-1.
He admitted French players missing the World Cup due to injuries will be missed.
“We will miss Paul Pogba a lot, like Kanté and Kimpembe. “Paulo” has been a serious force in this France team with his personality, but I am convinced that there are other young leaders who can emerge. I too will play my role of big brother for the youngest, be available to them and speak up when necessary,” he said.
After stretching exercises following their arrival on Wednesday, France held their first training session in Doha with a group of their fans cheering for their national team.
France will take on Denmark in their second match on November 26 and will play Tunisia in their last Group D match four days later.
