Giroud, the French musketeer who made Benzema forget and complements Mbappé

Karim Benzema once said that he could not be compared to Olivier Giroud for the simple reason that one should not “confuse Formula 1 with Karting”. Half jokingly, half seriously, the striker of Algerian origin, current Ballon d’Or, distanced himself from the teammate with whom he led the French attack in his early years.

But life wanted Benzema’s fortune not to be full: he is one with his clubs and another with his team (his injury in the days before Qatar indicates this). Quite the opposite of Giroud: despite having fewer conditions, he is the all-time scorer for France, with 53 goals, above that Play Station player named Thierry Henry (51), Antoine Griezmann (42), and the historic Michel Platini ( 41). And at the club level, the big-nosed has not fared badly: he has been a star at Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan. In addition, he has lifted the UEFA and the Champions League, that Cup reserved for a few.

As a result of Russia 2018, where he did not score a goal in an advanced position, Giroud’s goalscoring reputation was spoiled and he settled in people’s awareness that he is a fighting attacker who pivots, assists, endures and very occasionally write down. But the truth is that this was the role that fell to him in that Deschamps team, where Griezmann had not yet graduated from ’10’ and Mbappé was lightning without pause.

Whoever believed that his abilities reached that far must have taken a leap backwards with what was seen in Qatar 2022. Giroud, with streaks at 36, has four goals in five games (he did not play against Tunisia). A double against Australia, one to open the bolt for Poland and the game-winner against England in the quarter-finals is the best correction he could have made to himself. Along with the goal that he scored for Switzerland in Brazil 2014, there are already five that he has registered in the World Cups.

This Sunday, in Lusail, they will once again face off against the Argentines. Not like in the round of 16 in Russia 2018, but in the very final. Otamendi and Tagliafico are the only defenders to survive since then. Can they stop it? The ‘9’ has shown skill on the ground and in the air. And wow, the Albiceleste suffer when they are attacked from above. Unlike last World Cup, Giroud has also found a way to shine. Pay attention, Dibu, who can draw you.