Football

Olivier Giroud, France's all-time leading goalscorer, has bid farewell to international football after a remarkable career spanning 13 years. The 37-year-old striker announced his retirement on Monday, leaving behind a legacy of 57 goals in 137 appearances for Les Bleus.Giroud's journey with the French national team began in 2011, and he quickly established himself as a reliable goalscorer. He netted his first international goal in a friendly against Germany and went on to become the team's all-time top scorer, surpassing Thierry Henry's record of 51 goals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.Over the course of his international career, Giroud played a pivotal role in France's success. He was part of the squad that won the World Cup in 2018 and was also a runner-up in the 2016 European Championship and the 2022 World Cup.Giroud's international retirement marks the end of an era for French football. He was a beloved figure among fans and teammates alike, known for his unwavering determination and ability to score crucial goals. His legacy will undoubtedly inspire future generations of French footballers.

France, boasting an impressive squad depth, faces a significant challenge in the absence of their talismanic forward Kylian Mbappe, who is sidelined with a broken nose. The injury, sustained in their opening Euro 2024 match against Austria, casts doubt on Mbappe's availability for the upcoming clash with the Netherlands on Friday.Despite the setback, France remains confident in their ability to overcome the Netherlands without their star striker. Midfielder Adrien Rabiot expressed optimism, stating, "We have an exceptional squad. I have total confidence in the guys on the bench and the quality we have."Mbappe's absence is a significant blow, given his prolific scoring record and impact on the team's performances. However, France has shown resilience in recent matches without him, including a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in Euro 2024 qualifying.Coach Didier Deschamps has several options to replace Mbappe, including veteran striker Olivier Giroud, who played a key role in France's World Cup triumph in Qatar. Giroud, despite his age and recent groin injury, remains a reliable goal threat.Another option is Marcus Thuram, who can move from the left wing to a central role. However, Thuram has limited international experience and has only scored twice for France. Randal Kolo Muani is another possibility, but he has struggled for confidence after a difficult season at PSG.Despite the absence of Mbappe, France's performance against Austria suggests they have the defensive solidity to shut out most opponents. N'Golo Kante's return to the midfield has provided stability, while the defense has looked impressive.If France can secure a positive result against the Netherlands, they could seal their place in the last 16, allowing Mbappe to potentially sit out the final Group D game against Poland. However, the team will be eager to prove that they can succeed without their star player, demonstrating the depth and quality of their squad.

Olivier Giroud, the veteran French striker, bid farewell to AC Milan in a thrilling 5-2 defeat to AS Roma in a post-season friendly in Perth. The match, played in front of a packed Optus Stadium, marked Giroud's departure from Europe, where he has enjoyed a successful career in France, England, and Italy.Giroud, who will join Los Angeles FC next season, is France's all-time leading goalscorer with 57 goals in 131 appearances. He will have the opportunity to add to his tally at the Euros later this month before retiring from international football.Despite the defeat, Giroud's performance was overshadowed by the high-octane contest between the two teams. Roma took the lead through Tommaso Baldanzi in the 27th minute, but Theo Hernandez equalized for Milan just ten minutes later. Tammy Abraham restored Roma's lead before halftime, and the second half saw a flurry of goals from Angelino, Noah Okafor, Paulo Dybala, and Sardar Azmoun.Giroud, who won the Champions League with Chelsea and the Serie A title with Milan in 2021-2022, struggled to make an impact against Roma's determined defense. He was substituted at halftime, leaving the pitch to a standing ovation from the crowd."I learned so much from him. He is such a legend," said Swiss striker Noah Okafor, who replaced Giroud at halftime. "Big respect that he can perform at that age. I'm going to miss him....just going to enjoy these last hours together."Giroud's departure marks the end of an era for AC Milan, who will now look to rebuild their squad for the upcoming season. The Frenchman's experience and leadership will be sorely missed, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of Milan fans.

Olivier Giroud bid farewell to AC Milan with a poignant goal in their thrilling 3-3 draw against Salernitana on Saturday. The match marked the final appearance for both Giroud and coach Stefano Pioli, who guided Milan to the 2022 Serie A title.Giroud, who will join Los Angeles FC after Euro 2024, opened the scoring for Milan in the 27th minute. The veteran striker, who scored 49 goals in three seasons with the Rossoneri, was visibly emotional after netting his 17th goal of the campaign.Milan fans paid tribute to Giroud, chanting his name and holding up banners in his honor. The Frenchman, who played a pivotal role in Milan's Scudetto triumph, was substituted with five minutes remaining, prompting a standing ovation from the San Siro crowd.Pioli, who took over Milan in 2019, was also given a warm send-off by fans and players. The Italian coach, who led Milan to the Champions League semi-finals last season, was hoisted on the shoulders of his players at the end of the match."We won and lost together, shared joy and pain together," said Pioli. "You lit a fire in my heart that will not be extinguished. I won't forget you."Milan announced on Friday that Pioli would be leaving at the end of the season. He is reportedly set to be replaced by Lille coach Paulo Fonseca.In other Serie A action, Juventus secured a 2-0 victory over Monza to finish third in the standings. Goals from Federico Chiesa and Alex Sandro in the first half were enough for Juve to end their season on a positive note.Thiago Motta is expected to be appointed as the next Juventus coach after he decided not to renew his contract at Bologna. The former Italy midfielder guided Bologna to a respectable 12th-place finish in Serie A this season.

Olivier Giroud, France's all-time leading goalscorer, has announced his retirement from international football after the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament. The 37-year-old striker, who has scored 57 goals in 131 appearances for Les Bleus, made the announcement in an interview with L'Equipe.Giroud, who will join MLS side Los Angeles FC after Euro 2024, said it was time for the younger generation to take over. "To be honest, this will be my last tournament with France," he said. "Obviously I will miss it a lot. But I believe as regards 'Les Bleus', it will be game over after Euro. It is time to leave the stage to the young."Giroud broke Thierry Henry's national goalscoring record of 51 at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, where France lost to Argentina on penalties in the final. He also played a key role in France's 2018 World Cup triumph.Despite his success at international level, Giroud has never won the Premier League title, a fact he acknowledged in his interview. "If I triumph in the Euro, I can say that I won everything apart from the Premier League, which is very difficult to win," he said.Giroud began his career at Montpellier, where he inspired the club to the 2012 Ligue 1 title. He then moved to Arsenal, where he won three FA Cups, before joining Chelsea, where he won the FA Cup again and the Champions League. He moved to AC Milan in 2021 and won the Serie A title in 2022.Giroud believes he still has two years left in his club career, but he feels that his time with the French national team has come to an end. "I still think I have two years in me, but for the France team in my opinion it has come to an end," he said. "Time is beginning to catch up with me and I have thought about it long and hard. Playing every three days is becoming more and more difficult, especially at international level."