Giroud enjoys backing as France focal point

Olivier Giroud is yet to score at the World Cup as others enjoy the plaudits, but the number nine is highly valued by coach Didier Deschamps. Moscow (dpa) - Kylian Mbappe stole the show against Argentina and Antoine Griezmann was another France man of the match in the victory over Argentina. Could it be Olivier Giroud's turn against Belgium?
Giroud has not made his mark with a goal in France's advance to the World Cup semi-finals, yet here he is in Russia still leading the front line for Les Bleus. Back home some had questioned why coach Didier Deschamps had preferred him in the squad in the first place, while leaving the likes of Anthony Martial, Alexandre Lacazette and the banished Karim Benzema at home. His contribution though has been important for the side as an outlet and focal point in its play going forward.
Giroud is looking for a goal to put him past France great Zinedine Zidane in the all-time France national team scoring list. With 31 goals in 79 games, the 31-year-old striker is joint fourth with Zidane on the list behind only Thierry Henry (51), Michel Platini (41) and David Trezeguet (34). Behind him are players like Just Fontaine, Jean-Pierre Papin and Youri Djorkaeff, Giroud did not start in France's opening game in the tournament, a 2-1 victory over Australia, but came off the bench in the 70th minute for Griezmann.
Deschamps had preferred the pace of Ousmane Dembele, with Mbappe in the middle for that first match. The coach changed his mind for the second game against Peru. "It is when he is not there that we realize just how useful he can be," he said of Giroud. And it was the striker's deflected shot that led to Mbappe scoring to secure France's place in the knockout stage. Giroud has continued to play the full 90 minutes ever since - in the goalless draw with Denmark, the 4-3 victory over Argentina and the 2-0 defeat of Uruguay in the quarter-finals.
"He might not have the flamboyant style of other players but the team needs him in each and every match even if he doesn't score," Deschamps said. "He is useful in attack but also because of his game in the air and in defence. He does many things for the team to be balanced. "It's the players around him who benefit from his presence because he attracts the attention of the defenders." At 1.93 metres, Giroud is strong in the air, can hold the ball up and has a deft touch to bring others into play. France will be hoping now he is saving the goals for Tuesday's semi-final against Belgium.
"It's true he hasn't scored yet, but I repeat, yet," Deschamps said. "If he had scored it would have been good because a striker always likes to score, but Olivier Giroud is always extremely generous and he doesn't complain when it comes to working hard." Deschamps, as captain of the 1998 World Cup-winning side, learned how to appreciate a hard-working striker when Stephane Guivarc'h went through the tournament without scoring. However, Guivarc'h played just 14 games for France, scoring once.
Giroud's goal-to-game ratio is not much different to Henry's 51 in 123 games, in an international career that began in 2011. At club level he has mostly been associated with Arsenal after arriving from from Montpellier in 2012. Arsenal's former manager Arsene Wenger was always an admirer of the striker, who scored 105 goals in 253 games for the Gunners, but the arrival of Lacazette and later Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang saw Giroud move to London rivals Chelsea in January.
Now, like the France strikers ahead of him in the all-time list, Giroud wants to cap his career with a World Cup win. Henry, Trezeguet and Zidane were members of the team that won the 1998 World Cup, while Platini captained France to victory at Euro 1984. With coach and fellow 1998 winner Deschamps, Giroud has all the support he needs.