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Olivier Giroud has been hailed as the ideal team player by France team-mate Antoine Griezmann as he prepares for his final home international match.
Giroud, France’s all-time record goalscorer with 57 goals, is set to retire after Euro 2024. France face Canada in Bordeaux on Sunday evening and team mate Antoine Griezmann paid tribute to the 37-year-old.
“Giroud said that’s his last dance, I hope tomorrow there’s a special something for him,” Griezmann said of the striker, who has scored 57 goals in 131 international caps.
“He’s a man who deserves recognition. To be the player he has been…that’s him, he’s the ideal player for a group, for a coach, I have total respect for him and what he’s done.”
Giroud surpassed Thierry Henry as France all-time record goal scorer (Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Giroud will officially join LAFC when MLS’s summer transfer window opens on July 18, four days after the final of Euro 2024.
This will be France’s first game against Canada since the 1986 World Cup and head coach Didier Deschamps is expecting a more difficult test than last Wednesday when France beat Luxembourg 3-0 in Metz.
Deschamps, who said he will be without the injured Aurelien Tchouameni and won’t risk Adrien Rabiot who hasn’t properly trained, added: “I think Canada is going to be stronger, they’re more athletic, for instance.
“It’s a last rehearsal. I need to spread the time with rotations and maybe take some risks, with a goal that we have which is the match against Austria (France’s first match at the Euros).
“We definitely know about some of their players but it’s more about the team, they’re preparing for the Copa America.”
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Griezmann added ahead of the game: “We need to see if we’re ready, tactically, offensively, defensively. This is going to give you some confidence before the big tournament.
“It’s important to see if we’re ready. If not, we need to work on it.
“(Canada) won’t be easy, we saw that at the World Cup, they have players who are increasingly present here in Europe so the game is improving over there.
“They have renowned players, it’s a good test for us.”
(Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
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