All posts tagged: olivier giroud

Olivier Giroud, Stefano Pioli Bid Farewell To AC Milan; Juventus End Season With Monza Win

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Olivier Giroud said goodbye to AC Milan fans with a goal in Saturday’s entertaining season finale with Salernitana, drawn 3-3, that was the last match with the seven-time European champions for the France forward and for coach Stefano Pioli. Veteran striker Giroud put Milan two ahead in the 27th minute at the San Siro, shortly after Rafael Leao had opened the scoring. Giroud welled up after he netted for the 17th time this season. He will finish his club career at Los Angeles FC after playing his final matches for France at Euro 2024, and he signed off after three eventful years with his 49th goal for the club. The 37-year-old leaves as a big fan favourite and will be remembered in particular for scoring key goals in Milan’s 2022 Serie A triumph, the only trophy he won in his three years in Italy. When he was substituted with five minutes remaining and Milan still leading 3-1, fans belted out a chant in honour of his winning double in a derby victory which …

Euro 2024 Last Hurrah For France’s Record Scorer Olivier Giroud

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France’s record goalscorer Olivier Giroud is to retire from international football after Euro 2024, the World Cup winning striker told Friday’s edition of L’Equipe. Giroud, who will turn 38 in September, said it was time for the younger generation to have a chance at international level. The former Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan striker — who joins MLS outfit Los Angeles FC following the European Championship — has scored 57 goals in 131 international appearances. He broke Thierry Henry‘s national goalscoring record of 51 at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar where France did not surrender the title they won in 2018 easily, losing to Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina on penalties in the final. “To be honest, this will be my last tournament with France,” said Giroud, who was first capped in a friendly against the United States in November 2011. “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. “If …

N’Golo Kante Returns From Wilderness As Didier Deschamps Announces France Euro 2024 Squad

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World champion N’Golo Kante will make a surprise return to international football as France coach Didier Deschamps announced Thursday the 25 players that will make up the French squad at Euro 2024. Kante left English side Chelsea last summer to join Saudi club Al Ittihad and has not represented France since June 2022. “He played a full season (Kante struggled with injury during his time with Chelsea), albeit not in a European league, as he is in Saudi Arabia,” said Deschamps on French TV channel TF1. “He’s back to full fitness. With his experience, I’m convinced that the French team will be stronger with N’Golo Kante.” The 2018 World Cup winner was the big surprise in Deschamps’ squad, but the 33-year-old’s experience will doubtless be a help to youngsters Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola, who also made the squad after fine seasons at Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain. Winger Barcola, 21, is the only uncapped player in the squad but forced his way in with a strong finish to the season, impressing particularly …

FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France Final Live: France, Argentina Warming Up Ahead Of Title Clash

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FIFA World Cup 2022 Final Live, Argentina vs France: It’s Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappe© AFP FIFA World Cup 2022, Argentina vs France Live: Adrien Rabiot returns from illness in one of the two changes to the France team for Sunday’s World Cup final against Lionel Messi’s Argentina, for whom Angel Di Maria comes into the side. Midfielder Rabiot and centre-back Dayot Upamecano were both left out of the French side for the semi-final win over Morocco after contracting a virus which had also affected other members of the France squad. However, they are both back in the line-up named by coach Didier Deschamps, as Youssouf Fofana and Ibrahima Konate make way. The rest of the French line-up is unchanged, with centre-back Raphael Varane able to play despite missing training on Friday with cold-like symptoms. Meanwhile, Olivier Giroud retains his place in the French attack with Kylian Mbappe on the left, despite some suggestions that the latter would play through the middle and Marcus Thuram would start. (LIVE MATCHCENTRE) Here are the LIVE Score Updates …

FIFA World Cup: How Will Golden Boot Winner Be Decided If Players Are Tied On Goals?

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Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are tied on 5 goals each.© AFP Argentina prepared to face defending champions France in the World Cup final on Sunday with Lionel Messi seeking to crown his record-breaking career by winning football’s biggest prize for the first time on his farewell to the tournament. After 63 matches and 166 goals, the month-long footballing showpiece reaches its climax at Doha’s 89,000-capacity Lusail Stadium on Sunday. Messi, playing in his fifth and final World Cup, is hoping to lead Argentina to a first title since the Diego Maradona-inspired victory in Mexico City in 1986. In his way stand the prolific Kylian Mbappe and a France team aiming to become the first to win back-to-back World Cups since Pele‘s Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Both the players have scored five goals each and are the front-runners to win the ‘Golden Boot’, awarded to the highest goalscorers. The second highest scorer at wins the Silver Boot while the third-highest scorer wins the Bronze Boot. The top four goal scorers of FIFA World Cup 2022 …

FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Argentina vs France Final Live: Can Lionel Messi’s Side Trump Kylian Mbappe’s Team?

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FIFA World Cup 2022 Final Live, Argentina vs France: It’s Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappe© AFP FIFA World Cup 2022, Argentina vs France Live: Argentina prepared to face defending champions France in the World Cup final on Sunday with Lionel Messi seeking to crown his record-breaking career by winning football’s biggest prize for the first time on his farewell to the tournament. After 63 matches and 166 goals, the month-long footballing showpiece reaches its climax at Doha’s 89,000-capacity Lusail Stadium on Sunday. Messi, playing in his fifth and final World Cup, is hoping to lead Argentina to a first title since the Diego Maradona-inspired victory in Mexico City in 1986. (LIVE MATCHCENTRE) Here are the LIVE Score Updates of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, Football Match between Argentina and France straight from Lusail Stadium, Doha:  December18202218:01 (IST) FIFA WC: Morocco’s terrific run Morocco were the nation that caught the imagination — becoming the first side from Africa or the Arab world to reach the semi-finals, before losing 2-0 to defending champions France. The …

FIFA World Cup Final: Argentina vs France Player Profiles Of Probable Starters

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The FIFA World Cup 2022 has been touted as a showdown between two of the finest stars in world football — Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi — at present. The two superstar footballers, who are also teammates at the club level, playing for Paris Saint-Germain, are also among the top scorers in Qatar, ahead of the final. Argentina eye a third World Cup triumph when they take on the defending champions France, who could become the first team to retain the title since Brazil (1958 and 1962). Here are the profiles of players who are expected to be in the starting XI for the final: ARGENTINA GOALKEEPER EMILIANO MARTINEZ (Aston Villa/ENG) Age: 30 Caps: 25 Established himself as Argentina’s number one during last year’s Copa America victory, and saved two penalties in the quarter-final shootout win over the Netherlands DEFENCE NAHUEL MOLINA (Atletico Madrid/ESP) Age: 24 Caps: 26 Broke into side at last year’s Copa America and has become a regular at right-back. Set up opening goal in crucial group game with Poland and netted first goal in quarter-final against Dutch. CRISTIAN …

Argentina vs France, FIFA World Cup Final: Keys To The World Cup Final

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Argentina face defending champions France in the World Cup final on Sunday with Lionel Messi seeking to win the honour that has so far eluded one of football’s greatest ever players. In his way stands the prolific Kylian Mbappe and a France team aiming to win back-to-back World Cups for the first time since Pele‘s Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Ahead of the final, let’s take a look at some of the keys to the game: Messi v Mbappe? Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are team-mates at Paris Saint-Germain, but only one will return to the French capital happy. Both have scored five times en route to the final, with Messi in particular growing in influence the deeper Argentina have progressed at what is his last World Cup. They will have a big say over who hoists the trophy, the searing pace and devastating finishing of Mbappe up against the mesmerising close control, precision and vision of Messi. Three of Messi’s goals have been scored from the penalty spot, while all five of Mbappe’s have …

FIFA World Cup: Full-List Of Winners And Runners-Up

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FIFA World Cup 2022: Argentina will take on France in final on Sunday© AFP Sunday is going to be a memorable day for all the football fans around the world, as Argentina will be going up against France in the summit clash of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The 2018 defending champions will look to defend their title in order to become the first nation in 60 years to achieve the feat. On the other hand, the Lionel Messi-led side will aim to repeat their 1986 World Cup triumph, where they had lifted the trophy under the leadership of late great Diego Maradona. Argentina will be putting their best foot forward in the game as this might reportedly be Messi’s last match for the La Albiceleste. Ahead of the most-awaited match of the tournament, here is a list of all the winners and runners-up of the prestigious football event: CHAMPION    RUNNER UP  France (2018) Croatia Germany (2014)  Argentina Spain (2010)    Netherlands Italy (2006)    France Brazil (2002)   Germany France (1998)   Brazil Brazil …

Argentina vs France, FIFA World Cup: France’s Road To The Final

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France eye a third World Cup win, and their second in as many editions, when they square off against Argentina, also two-time winners, in the final at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday. Through to their fourth World Cup final in seven editions, France have become accustomed to success on the international stage and central to it all has been Didier Deschamps. After winning the title as a player in 1998, Deschamps guided Les Bleus to their second World Cup triumph in Russia four years ago. The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud have played a huge role in France’s success under Deschamps. Here’s France’s road to the FIFA World Cup final: Group Stage France were clubbed in Group D alongisde Denmark, Australia and Tunisia. In their opening match, France were stunned after Graig Goodwin had put Australia 1-0 up inside the first 10 minutes. However, Adrien Rabiot equalised for Les Bleus, before Giroud scored twice to turn the game on its head. Mbappe landed the final blow as France won the game …