Hugo Lloris, the captain of France, lauded Olivier Giroud as an “example of never giving up”
Giroud scored twice as France started their World Cup defence with a 4-1 victory against Australia, surpassing Thierry Henry as France’s all-time leading scorer.
If not for Karim Benzema’s pre-tournament injury, the Milan striker probably would not have even started the game, and Lloris is pleased to see his perseverance rewarded.
Olivier Giroud deserves a great deal of praise, Lloris stated after the game. “He is an example of never giving up in football.
“Over the last six months, he has been in and out of the office, but he has never lost his concentration, which is crucial. Equaling Thierry Henry is a significant accomplishment, and I hope that he will surpass him. It is a wonderful start for the whole squad, and the striker’s two goals are outstanding.”
France was forced to fight for the victory, particularly in the first half as Australia jumped out to an unexpected early lead.
Lloris, though, believes that France’s ability to fight back so forcefully demonstrates their spirit.
“I believe we deserve credit for a strong response, as we stepped up and took control of the game,” he remarked. “We are satisfied with the performance, but we are aware that we must improve with each game.
“The trick after falling behind was to maintain composure. We have a fantastic balance of young and experienced players, which is evident on the field.
“This is a really positive beginning to the World Cup, and we will now concentrate on preparing for Denmark.”
France will play Denmark in their second World Cup group stage match before facing Tunisia.
