Laurent Koscielny is congratuled by Olivier Giroud during the friendly football match between France and Scotland, at the St Symphorien Stadium in Longeville-l s-Metz, Eastern France, on June 4, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
The Arsenal centre-forward was booed by a section of the France support prior to last Monday’s 3-2 win against Cameroon but he netted in that game and his brace at the Stade Saint-Symphorien was a further indication that he has what it takes to lead an attack deprived of Karim Benzema.
Giroud opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a cheeky back-heel and netted again 10 minutes before the interval, with his Arsenal colleague Laurent Koscielny making it three late in the first half before a 25,000 capacity crowd in the north-eastern city.
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“It was a good scenario. We had an awful lot of chances in the second half and we could have added a few more goals,” said France coach Didier Deschamps. “It is always good for confidence; there were a lot of good things. Now we have just a week left before the opening match.”
France’s build-up to their Euros has been overshadowed by the Benzema affair, with the Real Madrid striker sidelined due to his involvement in the Mathieu Valbuena blackmail scandal.
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Injuries to key players have also disrupted their preparations but, in the rain, this was a near perfect evening and set Les Bleus up nicely for next Friday’s Euro 2016 opener against Romania at the Stade de France.
“If there is a better team than them then we’re in for a fantastic Euros,” admitted Scotland manager Gordon Strachan, whose side were well beaten.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2016.
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