Scouting report: Olivier Giroud, France. Age: 25. Position: striker. Club: Montpellier.
It has been a disappointing Euro so far for those of us who predicted the Montpellier striker would be the tournament’s unexpected star.
A ten minute cameo against Ukraine is all he has been given to shine, and in truth that did little to advance his claims. As France strolled to an easy victory against the hosts, les Bleus’ number nine came on as a replacement for Karim Benzema.
With absolutely nothing dependent on his presence, it seemed he was largely there to allow the Real Madrid man the chance to dry out ahead of the next stage after the biblical downpour which had visited Donetsk.
Certainly none of his team mates appeared to notice he was there: as he found good positions in the home box, both Franck Ribery and Samir Nasri put in crosses which wafted across about fifteen feet above his head.
A pity we have not seen him at his best, as he was when France beat Germany in a friendly back in February. Then you could understand why Borussia Munchengladbach were so keen to sign him and why Arsene Wenger has admired him for so long (albeit without removing the Arsenal chequebook from its shackles).
He is big, quick and has a nimble touch: think Peter Crouch with muscles, or Grant Holt with pace. He is also, as if in preparation for a life in England, heavily tattooed.
As such he would be perfectly attuned to the Premier League. You could see him easily leading the line at Tottenham or Aston Villa next season. Or indeed Arsenal should the inevitable happen and Robin Van Persie be swallowed up by Manchester City.
Source [Telegraph]
A ten minute cameo against Ukraine is all he has been given to shine, and in truth that did little to advance his claims. As France strolled to an easy victory against the hosts, les Bleus’ number nine came on as a replacement for Karim Benzema.
With absolutely nothing dependent on his presence, it seemed he was largely there to allow the Real Madrid man the chance to dry out ahead of the next stage after the biblical downpour which had visited Donetsk.
Certainly none of his team mates appeared to notice he was there: as he found good positions in the home box, both Franck Ribery and Samir Nasri put in crosses which wafted across about fifteen feet above his head.
A pity we have not seen him at his best, as he was when France beat Germany in a friendly back in February. Then you could understand why Borussia Munchengladbach were so keen to sign him and why Arsene Wenger has admired him for so long (albeit without removing the Arsenal chequebook from its shackles).
He is big, quick and has a nimble touch: think Peter Crouch with muscles, or Grant Holt with pace. He is also, as if in preparation for a life in England, heavily tattooed.
As such he would be perfectly attuned to the Premier League. You could see him easily leading the line at Tottenham or Aston Villa next season. Or indeed Arsenal should the inevitable happen and Robin Van Persie be swallowed up by Manchester City.
Source [Telegraph]
No comments:
Post a Comment