French national team manager Didier Desachmps has expressed his frustration seeing Olivier Giroud benched week-in-week-out. Deschamp, who named Giroud for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers but remains concerned over his lack of form and confidence.
Desachamps said: “Olivier is in a tough position — it’s a difficult period for him. “He was sent off in the Champions League with Arsenal and couldn’t play in their last match in the competition. He’s not playing as much as before. Inevitably, his confidence has diminished.”
“He started two games at the 2014 World Cup, he was an important player and he can’t lose that from one day to the next. The fact that he’s here is also a way of telling him that I have confidence in him.”
In recent weeks, Giroud has moved down in the pecking order and is no longer the number one striker at Emirates. Theo Walcott with some mature and level headed performances has made that position his own and against Manchester United, he went on to add to his growing reputation.
Giroud has a tough competition for his national team as well after Anthony Martial’s emergence this season. Manchester United striker was named PFA fans’ player of the month and has been seen as the next big thing for France. Karim Benzema is the mainstay of French football and in Antoine Griezmann, there is another striker who is ahead of Giroud at the moment.