Currently preparing for a World Cup qualifier against Belarus on Tuesday, Olivier Giroud took some time out to give a lengthy interview to Le Parisien.
The French striker, who once again found the back of the net for his country in a 3-1 win against Italy last week, was the subject of much jeering and whistling before the Euro 2016 campaign.
Didier Deschamps’ decision to leave Karim Benzema out of his France squad wasn’t the most popular, and the fans seemingly refused to support his backup in Olivier Giroud, who got a bit fed up.
He said: “I straight away realised the people booing me weren’t anti-Giroud, but pro-Benzema. They couldn’t help it. I came off the back a great season with Arsenal. It was just a bit disappointing, but I was pleased to change their minds.
“That’s football. Other guys get booed then clapped. Even I can be like that. Criticising a guy for missing a shot, and then hug him. It’s human, but to boo, I found it hard to understand. It was hard, but I’d already overcome this in past. And I might still have to!”
Despite this, the Arsenal goalscorer, while not at his most prolific, still helped his team out with a few goals throughout the competition, and was tied second best goalscorer with the likes of Dimitri Payet, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
He continued: “Don’t make a big deal out of it, but yes, it got on my nerves, to be polite. I wasn’t responsible in the slightest in this whole affair, and I didn’t understand this hatred that grew against me. People wanted Benzema up top, and I was the scapegoat.”
After France lost in the final of the competition against Portugal due to a late Eder goal, and the disappointment slowly faded, Giroud explained the fans congratulated him, and even thanked him and the team for helping them put to one side the context surrounding the Paris terrorist attacks, even if it was just for a bit.
Since, the player is yet to have a big impact for Arsenal this season, only playing a few minutes towards the end of their 0-0 draw against Leicester, meaning these two international games are a great opportunity for him to regain some fitness.
After all, he’s already found the back of the net. The rest will follow.
