Didier Drogba has claimed that former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is ‘underrated’ after he equalled France’s goalscoring record held by Thierry Henry at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Tuesday night, as he told Match of the Day.
The 36-year-old scored goals number 50 and 51 for France at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, as the world champions came from behind to beat Australia 4-1, with Kylian Mbappe and Adrien Rabiot also adding to Giroud’s brace.
Giroud may well have a World Cup winners medal around his neck from his nation’s 2018 triumph in Russia, but he entered this tournament to play a backup role to 2022 Ballon d’Or winner and Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning superstar, Karim Benzema.
But injury cruelly ended Benzema’s World Cup campaign and his starting spot was taken up by a guy two years older than the 34-year-old.
One thing is for sure about Giroud, who left Arsenal for Chelsea in 2018, is that he is reliable, and whilst he might not get the true recognition he deserves from fans, he is bigged up by his fellow teammates and professionals, as Drogba spoke highly about the AC Milan hitman.
“I think he’s underrated,” said Drogba. “He’s a different player compared to Thierry Henry, who was more explosive. He won the league in Italy. He won the league in England, with Chelsea, I think? In France as well.
“(Equal) top-scorer behind Thierry Henry. When he plays nobody really talks about him. But he’s scoring his goals.
GIROUD A DREAM PLAYER FOR TEAMMATES
A great goalscorer, a scorer of great goals and soon-to-be France’s top marksman ever, Giroud can’t just find the back of the net, but one of his biggest strengths is what he does for his teammates.
There’s no doubt that he makes those around him much, much better and that was proven at the 2018 World Cup when then-teenager Kylian Mbappe thrived alongside him, with Antoine Griezmann on the other flank.
Whilst Giroud didn’t get a goal to his name, he made sure those around him were constantly finding the back of the net and helping France create their greatest-ever tournament in recent times.
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