France’s all-time leading scorer Olivier Giroud says he plans to end his international career after the European Championship next month.
The 37-year-old forward has scored 57 goals in 131 matches
for France. He was part of the France squad that won the 2018 World Cup and has
been selected to play at the Euros.
“To be honest, this will be my last competition with Les
Bleus. Obviously, I’m going to miss it a lot,” Giroud told L’Equipe in an
interview published late Thursday. ”We need to make way for the youngsters.”
Giroud recently signed a deal to play in the MLS with Los
Angeles FC, leaving Europe after 18 years in the top professional leagues in
France, England and Italy. Giroud joined LAFC from AC Milan with a contract
through 2025. The deal includes an option for 2026.
“I’m also feeling physical and mental fatigue,” Giroud told
L’Equipe. “I’ve always said I was going to stop when my body asked me to. I
think I’ve got two good years left. But as far as the French team is concerned,
I think that’ll be the end of it.”
Giroud is best known for his six prolific seasons at Arsenal
from 2012-18, followed by three years apiece at Chelsea and Milan. He has
scored 285 goals in 716 matches during his club career while winning a wealth
of trophies, including a Champions League triumph with Chelsea three years ago.
He also won the French league title with Montpellier back in 2012, and the
Italian league with Milan 10 years later.
The European Championship begins next month in Germany.
France, which has won the tournament twice, is in a group with Austria, the
Netherlands and Poland.
“It’s really the desire to go as far as possible in the
competition with this generation that drives me,” Giroud said when asked about
his objective at the Euro. “If I win, apart from the Premier League, which is
very difficult to win, I could say I’ve won everything... I’m also hearing a
lot about reaching the 60-goal mark for the national team. But it’s not an
obsession.” AP
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