France cannot win this summer’s World Cup if they continue to play Olivier Giroud up front, according to Christophe Dugarry.
Despite not being a starting striker for Arsenal in recent years, and Chelsea this season, Giroud has remained the go-to guy for France coach Didier Deschamps.
The striker has scored 30 goals for his country in a seven-year international career, more than any other active player and joint-fifth of all time, alongside Jean-Pierre Papin and Just Fontaine.
However, Dugarry, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, believes the national team will be much better off playing someone like Kylian Mbappe up front. NaijaBet.com
“To score 30 goals with the France team is exceptional,” he told Foot01.
“But I stay on my position and I think that if we want to win the World Cup we cannot play with Olivier Giroud as centre-forward on all matches.
“It is not possible. I am really disappointed not to have seen Mbappé in this post.
“This means that to be world champion, it will be necessary to make and win seven matches with Olivier Giroud centre-forward.
“Well, I wish him a lot of courage.”
Giroud has played eight games so far for Chelsea in all competitions since joining in January, scoring once and assisting three.
Who should start for France at the World Cup?
France currently have an embarrassment of riches with regards to their squad depth ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
But if Giroud is not the right choice to start up front, who is?
With regards to league goals, Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann leads the way with an average of 0.71 per 90 minutes, despite taking just 2.71 shots per 90.
Despite playing on the wing at Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe holds himself well against the out-and-out strikers this season, scoring 0.23 goals from 2.45 shots – though his best asset comes when dribbling with the ball.
Both Karim Benzema and Alexandre Lacazette have had sub-par seasons with Real Madrid and Arsenal respectively, while Giroud has been most effective for Chelsea in assisting and holding the ball up, winning 70% of his total duels so far.
