The Arsenal players in the France international squad would appear to have the edge on their Premier League rivals in the plans of the France manager Didier Deschamps, or at least for the opening game of the Euro 2016 tournament tonight against an unfancied Romania team.
The fact that our excellent centre back Laurent Koscielny is due to get the nod ahead of the Man City defender Eliaquim Mangala is hardly surprising really, as the Gunner was one of the most consistent and impressive players in the Premier League last season, while the only consistency with Mangala is how he has continually failed to justify his huge transfer fee.
But if Sky Sports are right about our big centre forward Olivier Giroud being preferred to the Man United forward Anthony Martial then there will be a few more raised eyebrows, especially after Giroud suffered his longest ever barren spell for us last season and only got back among the goals very recently.
The Arsenal striker was also booed by the French fans in one of their recent friendly games, but Deschamps seems to be like Arsene Wenger in having great belief in the big man’s ability. A lot of Arsenal fans will disagree but I can see their point, especially in a game like tonight’s when they can expect Romania to sit deep and defend for their lives.
Being English I do not want France to win Euro 2016 but I would love to see our Arsenal stars shine tonight, so Allez Les Bleus! Or Allez Olly and Laurent at least!
Of course, Giroud will surely start and not only that,he will score too…
Only Benz can keep him on the bench and he is not there plus Giroud is in fine form right now!
Exactly. Considering the fact that Giroud has been with the international team for a while now. They can start Giroud and Martial together but if they choose to go with Giroud then I reckon Martial will be his sub and may start some games if Giroud doesn’t turn up…. All the best to France and to our players (Giroud and the boss Kos)….
I had suspected the 15 games barrenness Giroud had for Arsenal last season was intentionally carried out by Giroud himself in retaliation for the Boss unbelievably substituting him in our home Premier League match against Chelsea at the Ems.
If we can remember, Giroud was on a good goals scoring form run before that match. But as Rhinosacker was sent off in the match, the Boss did a substitution by bringing on Walcott for Giroud to the annoyance of Giroud and in protest by the Emirates faithful fans. The BBC radio commentaries I was hearing then, had opined the Boss might have lost his mind by making the wrong substitution. Saying, “It should have been Campbell the Boss ought to have taken off and not Giroud”.
Since that Giroud removal in that Chelsea match, he has appeared to have intentionally withdrew himself from scoring goals for Arsenal as if to say to the Boss okay, win the title then let me see.
@Samuel. Call me naive,mon ami.but I have a hard time believing anyone would not intentionaly score.
Is it actually good for Arsenal as Giroud scored?? Hope he will not give Mr. Stubborn a reason to mess it up all again. CONGRAT to him anyway.
Dimitri Payet. Wow. This guy is pure quality. what a player. that shot on his weaker foot was superb.
Hasn’t he scored 18 in 13 for France? If so how do you bench him?
Actually last night was his 18th goal with his 50th cap. Fact…..
In Thierry’s first 50 games for France he scored 20, so not a bad figure…
Ah ok, I must’ve heard wrong. I hope he has a good tournament.