Olivier Giroud’s revenge: the kart that beat a Formula One in Qatar 2022

Today it is a figure of a France that aims to give away many joys, but until November 19, the eve of starting the ball rolling in Qatar, Olivier Giroud was resigned to playing a secondary role before another striker who presented himself with current credentials of greater strength: Karim BenzemaBallon d’Or and winner of the Champions League, was the undisputed starter. However, fate is full of winks and unforeseen events, and an untimely injury separated the Real Madrid player from the competition, thus giving Giroud the unexpected opportunity: to be a key part of the French team. There, above, in the area, from ‘9’, as a scorer. A golden opportunity, although at the cost of another’s misfortune. The Fates doing their thing.

Just over a year ago, in October 2021, Olivier presented his autobiographical book “Always Believe”and in this, the now striker of the Milan He told a painful episode that speaks of how unfair the fans are when passion overwhelms them. “I had to face and endure criticism because I was in his place [de Benzema]. They used to boo me. Against Cameroon I scored and they still booed me. They resented me because I was there and he wasn’t.”Giroud recounted in reference to a friendly played in 2016. “On the morning of the match I saw a boy in the team hotel holding a banner […]. He would say: ‘Giroud, please, injure yourself’”.

A hateful situation to which he himself had also contributed. Benzema, who in a direct on Instagram in 2020 was asked about Giroud, and about which he launched a metaphor with an air of superiority and egocentrism: “We cannot confuse a Formula 1 with a kart. I am nice to him, but I am Formula 1.”. However, nobody told Karim that he would see a red flag before starting this GP with ‘les bleus’.

Today, the numbers tell us that Olivier holds the scoring record in the history of his team with 52 goalsyes, three of them in Qatar. In addition, he has had the luxury of making a chalaca, a volley and a taquito that almost did not add more. The incarnated fable of the one who came to be a substitute and who only has reasons to smile.

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