“Olivier Giroud never gave up” in the French team, praises Didier Deschamps

The French team’s top scorer announced his international retirement, the day after Euro 2024.

“Everything has not always been easy for Olivier in the French team, but he has never given up, always showing seriousness, professionalism and fighting spirit.” The tribute was signed by Didier Deschamps, in a press release released on Monday July 15 by the French Football Federation (FFF), and it gives an idea of ​​the mark left by Olivier Giroud, the top scorer in the history of the Blues with 57 goals in 137 selections.

In tune with his coach, the president of the FFF, Philippe Diallo, considered that Olivier Giroud “through his team spirit, his professionalism, his self-denial, he was able to gain the respect of everyone within the staff and among the players, who considered him a bit like a big brother.”

The former AC Milan player, who had already announced in May that he would retire from international football after Euro 2024, made it official on Monday July 15 on his Instagram account.“The dreaded moment has arrived: to say goodbye to the French team,” he wrote.

“My career with the French team has not always been smooth sailing. I have had doubts at times, and suffered from criticism, but deep down, I have never stopped believing in it.”he insisted. “This French team that I served for thirteen years will remain forever engraved in my heart. It is my greatest pride and my most beautiful memory,” assured the player trained in Grenoble.

World champion in 2018, finalist in 2022, he came very close to a European title, failing in the final in 2016 at the Stade de France against Portugal (1-0 aet), and was eliminated this year in the semi-finals of the Euro by Spain. In addition to the collective trophies, the striker will also leave a mark in the statistics since he erased Thierry Henry from the records, becoming during the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 the record holder for the number of goals scored in the French team.