World Cup: Giroud equals scoring record as France beat Australia in dominant opener

AL WAKRAH, Qatar – Olivier Giroud was unlikely to start until Karim Benzema was ruled out of the World Cup, but adversity has never fazed the man who on Tuesday equalled Thierry Henry’s all-time goalscoring record for his country.

The 36-year-old struck twice in France’s 4-1 victory over Australia, becoming the oldest player to score for Les Bleus at the World Cup in a strong start to their title defence.

France fell behind early to opponents whom they also started their victorious 2018 campaign against but there was no looking back once Giroud tapped in Adrien Rabiot’s pass in the first half.

Kylian Mbappe then provided the cross for the forward to head in for 4-1 and match Henry with his 51st international goal.

Mbappe and Rabiot were the other scorers for France following Craig Goodwin’s shock early opener in the Group D match.

“It’s not something that was weighing on him. I don’t know if he was searching for the record. It’s above all about what he does on the pitch... he is an important asset for us,” said coach Didier Deschamps of Giroud.

“He’s very useful in the way he links up with all the other players in the attack and the team.”

Henry played 123 times for France. Giroud’s record-equalling strike came in his 115th appearance for the world champions.

The target man for France in 2018, Giroud failed to score a single goal as they won the World Cup in Russia and risked missing out altogether here having not been a regular in recent squads.

But his form at AC Milan this season convinced Deschamps to include him, even if he was expected to feature mainly from the bench.

That all changed over the course of one fateful training as Benzema, already struggling for fitness, was forced to withdraw with a left thigh injury he picked up last Saturday. Giroud was then thrust into the line-up to support Mbappe.

A late bloomer who did not made his top-flight debut until 23 with Montpellier, Giroud’s tale is one of resilience and unyielding faith as a player who never gave up on his dreams.

“I have always been shaped by adversity, it’s kind of the story of my career,” he told beIN Sports in 2020.

On Tuesday, he said: “On a personal level, I couldn’t have hoped for more. It’s a great source of pride and I don’t intend to stop here. I hope to continue in the competition to help the team achieve our goal. Always taking one game at a time, getting stronger.”

Once derisively likened to a go-kart by Benzema, who compared himself to a Formula One car, Giroud looks set to have another key role to play as France try to become the first team to retain the World Cup trophy since Brazil in 1962.

They are also the first defending champions to win their opening match since Brazil in 2006, something Italy in 2010, Spain in 2014 and Germany in 2018 failed to do.

“It is nice to score four goals, even if we could have had more, and it’s a really good start for us,” said Deschamps, whose side lead Denmark and Tunisia by two after they played out a 0-0 draw.

The only blemish is that defender Lucas Hernandez is now out of the tournament after suffering a serious knee injury.

Australia coach Graham Arnold, meanwhile, admitted his side were thoroughly beaten.

“At the end of the day, (it was) the quality of the French team. They are the previous world champions for a reason... But overall, the boys did everything they could and that’s all I can ask,” he said. AFP, REUTERS

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France’s top scorers

Olivier Giroud, Thierry Henry: 51 goals

Antoine Griezmann: 42

Michel Platini: 41

Karim Benzema: 37

David Trezeguet: 34