Milan, Giroud called up by the French national team in place of Benzema

It remains open to call, Didier Deschamps said at a press conference on Thursday. It seemed the usual phrase of convenience after months of exclusions and an attack that has now matured other automatisms. Without Olivier Giroud, in fact, he slipped out of the French national team after the European flop. But the Bleus coach was serious and today he has decided to call back the forward who had in the meantime moved to Milan. Call-up induced by the injury of Karim Benzema.

WANDED

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In any case, the Rossoneri found Clairefontaine where it now seemed he would never return. He is also to blame for that media bickering with Mbappé on the eve of the European Championship. A banal story of occasions not created, in the absence of useful balls, suggesting that the fault, according to Giroud, was a somewhat selfish attitude of the Parisian colleague. Deschamps had to intervene firmly, preventing Mbappé from hotly replying and then ramming Giroud. The exit from the Uefa tournament in the round of 16, with zero goals like the World Cup won in Russia in 2018, and above all the rebirth of Benzema, did the rest. And the Chelsea ex has been off the list since June 28. Also skipping the Nations League won in Italy by France in October with goals from Benzema and Mbappé (1-2).

RECORD

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In short, the national team seemed a closed speech for Giroud who, however, as repeated in recent months, has never thought of giving it up. Indeed, the striker used Milan to get back into orbit, scoring important goals and living his first season in Serie A as a protagonist, dragging his new teammates to the top of the standings. On Thursday, however, Deschamps explained that “winning the Scudetto would not change the situation”. Adding, to comment on other absences, that all the calls are the result of “sporting choice”. Emphasizing, however, that Giroud, like the others, remained within the circle of those eligible to be called. And so, Benzema’s left calf injury – which he will also have to give up tomorrow’s clasico – triggered the call for Giroud expected on Monday in Clairefontaine, to prepare the friendlies against Ivory Coast and South Africa. The Rossoneri can thus try to reduce the gap of 5 goals from Thierry Henry’s all-time record for goals in Bleu, set at 51 goals.