Thursday, March 28, 2024

VIDEO: Giroud sends France to Russia, Xhaka must wait

Olivier Giroud scored his 28th goal for France as they overcame Belarus 2-1 at the Stade de France to book their place at next summer’s World Cup.

Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann gave Les Bleus the lead on 27 minutes before the Arsenal man doubled the lead six minutes later. There was a scare for the home side when Belarus reduced the deficit before

There was a scare for the home side when Belarus reduced the deficit before half time but they held on to seal a victory that, coupled with Sweden’s defeat to Holland, sees them avoid a play-off and finish top.

Giroud, who started ahead of Alexandre Lacazette and Kylian Mbappe, rewarded the faith shown in him by Didier Deschamps by latching onto a Griezmann pass and sliding the ball home from 12 yards despite being under pressure from two defenders.

He’s now level with Yourri Djorkaeff as France’s seventh highest scorer and is only six goals shy of David Trezeguet in third place.

Elsewhere, Granit Xhaka’s Switzerland will have to go through a play-off if they are to qualify for Russia 2018. An own goal from former Arsenal man Johan Djourou and Andre Silva’s strike were enough for Portugal to beat them 2-0 and secure the automatic qualification spot on goal difference.

Sead Kolasinac won’t be going to the World Cup. Bosnia and Herzogovina beat Estonia 2-1 in their final game but they still finished third in Group H behind Greece and Belgium.

Alexis Sanchez’s Chile and David Ospina’s Colombia will decide their fate later tonight when they travel to Brazil and Peru respectively.

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onenil

Interesting technique for that goal. Pass ball to a defender then tackle the ball into the net?!
Congrats. They can’t all be flying scorpions!

Gooooooooonnnnaaaaaaaaa

He’s now 7th highest scorer and 6 goals away from David Trezegeut’s record. That is unbelievably impressive! Hats off to you HFB!

Penfield

One might say he’s up there with some world class players ?

Crash Fistfight

Good grief, Penfield.

Gudang Pelor

For Arsenal player to be able to score scrappy goals, unintended goals, belters, headers are most welcome. Too many of our chances didnt turn to goals bevause of over-elaboration in trying to score the perfect goals.

Pedant
Rich

Giroud is brilliant so happy we didn’t send him off to Everton.

cagooner

And so handsome!

Paul

who would down vote this??

Crash Fistfight

People who don’t find him handsome?

shokim

Congrats to our HFB!

Ponsonby Gooner

I’d like to see Giroud start scoring more goals in the waffa and carabuncle cups to put some pressure on lacazette. He should still be competing for the first choice striker position

Flummoxed

Agreed, he still has a lot to offer us

CescFabregasMilf

I don’t think Sanchez will be in good mood until he departs.. Chile ?? out!! He will have to makr do with 65inch view from his home in Manchester… ? ?

Rambozil

I always like it when he scores

Maxin In The Shade

Of course Sanchez gets a football free summer during a WC year after he leaves Arsenal

Maxin In The Shade

I should of written ‘after more than likely leaving Arsenal’. My bad 🙂

Jimbo1

Yep. 3-0 to Brazil

Lack of Perspective

Giroud>Sanchez for me.

Ruggid, works hard and a team player. Sanchez is awesome but reminds me of the school football team captain, greedy and full of himself.

Would like a direct comparison of their goals/assists last season and the direct impact they had on our points total.

7am?

ramgooner

Now that Mustafi is injured i’m thinking should we start 4 at the back and play Giroud up top in the PL.. especially in away games?

Trez

Play a 4-3-3. Only way ro utilize our midfield talents while offering protection to the defence

santori

Giroud starts for France for a reason. He makes it happen. No problem with pace there then.

Meanwhile Alexis bows out. Truth is this Chile team has seen better days and they have failed to rejuvenate the ranks.

Hopefully Granit helps sneak Switzerland in with the play offs.

nimble foot

Chile were fucked the moment Alexis started having dreams of leaving Arsenal. Their great spell came when he was wholly and totally committed to the gun. Coincidence maybe but I prefer this narrative.

Lack of Perspective

I watched the portugal game. I didnt even realize xhaka was playing.

nimble foot

By this you surely mean he didn’t start a Portuguese counter attack which led to a goal. In that case, it’s a good thing

royerkriss

He is in a very good spot indeed in comparison to his peers: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_meilleurs_buteurs_en_%C3%A9quipe_de_France_de_football
Same goal ratio as Henry and not far behind Trezeguet!

estonian gooner

Kolasinac was taken off at half time vs Estonia. I didn’t see any injuries happening to him but it was a bit odd substitution. Hopefully just a tactical change because Bosnia had nothing to play for and maybe wanted to try some other formations. We can’t lose another defender right now.

Alex

Strange you forget to mention that the Welsh Jesus is out of the World Cup too! This time he doesn’t have Özil to endorse his failures…
Oh, and the Chilean God couldn’t save his country? Sorry, but that makes me laugh.

Gudang Pelor

It’s Herzegovina not Herzogovina, mind you.

Crash Fistfight

Etymologically, the name does come from the German word Herzog, though, funnily enough.

Teryima Adi

That’s our HFB. The most underrated player on planet earth if there was ever one.
Congrats Giroud.

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