Tag: Euro 2024

Maximilian Woeber’s own goal was enough to give France a winning start to their Euro 2024 campaign on Monday as they edged Austria 1-0 in their opening game but Kylian Mbappe came off late on with a broken nose.

Woeber diverted Mbappe’s cutback into his own net seven minutes before half-time in Duesseldorf to allow the French, one of the leading contenders to win the tournament, to come through a stiff test.

Austria have been much-improved under Ralf Rangnick and they often made life uncomfortable for France, who saw Mbappe leave the field near the end after being hurt in a collision.

He had earlier failed to convert a glorious chance that would have allowed France to win by a wider margin, and sources close to the player confirmed he had broken his nose in the accidental clash with Kevin Danso.

“He is in a bad way. He is not well. His nose is a mess, that’s for sure. That is the black mark of the evening for us,” France coach Didier Deschamps said, without confirming the extent of the injury.

“We had the chance to put the game to bed and it is true that we could have been more precise in attack, but it’s very good to start with a victory,” Deschamps said of the result.

France will next face the Netherlands in Leipzig on Friday, while Austria will face Poland on the same day in Berlin.

“We are obviously disappointed with the result. No France player scored against us in 100 minutes, just a very unfortunate own goal,” said Rangnick.

“I think Didier Deschamps was really happy when the final whistle came which shows how well my team played.”

Austria had enjoyed some impressive results coming into the tournament and their team is on familiar ground during these Euros — Rangnick is from Germany and eight of their starting line-up played in the German Bundesliga last season.

The French, however, are arguably the most talented team at the tournament, led by their captain Mbappe.

He endured a miserable time at his only previous Euros in 2021, failing to score and missing the decisive penalty in a shoot-out defeat by Switzerland in the last 16.

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The new Real Madrid signing will wonder how he did not score in this game, with his first big opportunity arriving inside eight minutes.

Antoine Griezmann and Theo Hernandez combined to release Mbappe, who cut in from the left and shaped to curl a shot into the far corner before instead aiming for the near post.

However, Austria goalkeeper Patrick Pentz managed to make the save.

The Austrians settled into the contest and passed up a wonderful chance of their own to go ahead on 36 minutes.

Skipper Marcel Sabitzer touched down a Michael Gregoritsch cross from the left for Christoph Baumgartner, but he was foiled by goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

That proved crucial as France took the lead two minutes later.

Ousmane Dembele gave the ball to Mbappe on the right, and he produced a stepover to get to the byline before his cutback was nodded into the far corner of his own net by the unfortunate Woeber.

Mbappe was then thwarted by Pentz as he tried to go around the goalkeeper in first-half stoppage time, but that was nothing compared to the chance he squandered 10 minutes after the restart.

Adrien Rabiot sent Mbappe away, bounding in behind the Austrian defence, but he somehow put his shot wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.

That left the game in the balance, and Austria continued to push for a leveller, without success.

Their fans were less than impressed by what they perceived as timewasting late on from Mbappe, who needed treatment after colliding with Danso in the box.

He left the pitch with his shirt stained by blood, only to then come back on and sit down, earning himself a yellow card before being replaced by Olivier Giroud.

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Portugal defender Ruben Dias said Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence shows their squad they can achieve anything as they prepare to make their Euro 2024 bow against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

Portugal won Euro 2016 and are spearheaded by 39-year-old superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo, preparing to play at a record-extending sixth Euros.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the record men’s international goalscorer with 130 strikes for his country, is also the all-time top scorer at the tournament with 14, a distance ahead of former France great Michel Platini in second spot on nine goals.

“I would say he represents inspiration, he represents that anything is possible, he represents all that you can dream, and achieve it,” Manchester City centre-back Ruben Dias told a news conference Monday.

“Mainly I would like to say it’s a pleasure to have him with us. More than all these little things or big things, him being with us in this moment of his career represents that he wants to win again.

“He’s our captain and obviously we follow him to the end.”

If Ronaldo scores at the Euros this summer he will become the competition’s oldest goalscorer of all time, breaking a record set by Austria’s Ivica Vastic at 38 in Euro 2008.

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Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said Cristiano Ronaldo’s experience could be vital at the tournament, along with veteran centre-back Pepe, 41.

“(Ronaldo) is very important… at tournaments, Euros and World Cups, the key is a mix of experience and new talent,” said Martinez.

“Our team does it perfectly — you mentioned Cristiano, and him and Pepe bring experience nobody else has, they are the two oldest players at the tournament.

“Then we have (the young players too)… we need all of this, they all need to be linked together, committed, that is crucial for us.”

Czech Republic and West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek said his team could not afford to let their guard down against the Al Nassr striker.

“We all know Ronaldo’s quality especially if you give him space,” Soucek told a news conference.

“We can’t give him an inch, especially in the area — (there) we need to double our defence on him.

“Our goal is to stop him but obviously we need to stop the rest of the Portuguese team too.”

If Ronaldo fires then Portugal may be able to live up to their billing as one of the favourites to win the tournament.

Martinez said he was aiming for that when asked if he had packed enough clothes in his suitcase to go the full distance.

“We must believe, we need to dream big — if we don’t dream big then it will be tough,” he said.

“Tomorrow will be the right time to show we are ready, that we can meet all the expectations, but after the first three matches we can gauge whether or not we deserve to stay or not.

“I brought seven shirts, not three.”

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GELSENKIRCHEN: Jude Bellingham showed why he has been hailed as the key to England’s Euro 2024 challenge with a masterful display capped by the winning goal in their 1-0 victory against Serbia at the Arena AufSchalke on Sunday.

Bellingham arrived at the European Championship heralded as one of the world’s best young players after enjoying the season of his life at Real Madrid.

The 20-year-old lived up to the hype as his influential performance ensured England started their bid for a first major trophy in 58 years in winning fashion.

“It’s really special to score any time for England, especially a match-winning goal and one that can hopefully help us do well in the tournament,” he said.

From the moment he burst onto the scene at Birmingham at the age of 16, Bellingham has been on a remarkable rise that shows no signs of abating.

Bellingham helped Madrid beat his former club Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final earlier in June and was named La Liga’s Player of the Year after starring in the club’s latest domestic triumph.

Bellingham’s 19 league goals for Real this term showcased his transformation into a genuine penalty area threat, a valuable weapon along with his smooth passing and indefatigable work rate.

He took just 13 minutes to underline the point in their Group C opener against Serbia.

Bellingham started the move in midfield with a measured pass to Kyle Walker before sprinting into the penalty area to meet Bukayo Saka’s cross with a superb diving header that arrowed into the net from six yards.

After being mobbed by his teammates, Bellingham showed his comfort in the spotlight, soaking up the adulation of the England supporters with his arms outstretched before running to the centre circle to whip up the fans at the other end.

“It’s a great start for me personally. They give me a lot of appreciation and love. It’s good to give that back,” he said.

Scoring England’s first goal of a major tournament is nothing new to Bellingham, who headed their opener against Iran at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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Jude Bellingham is the first European player to feature in three major tournaments before he turns 21 after previously playing at Euro 2020 and the last World Cup.

Having become the youngest Englishman to play at a major tournament four years ago, Bellingham is also the second man after Michael Owen to score at both the World Cup and European Championship before the age of 21.

Despite his tender age, Bellingham is already so influential for England that he was named part of boss Gareth Southgate’s four-man ‘leadership group’ ahead of the tournament.

Serbia were completely unable to contain Bellingham and veteran Nemanja Gudelj earned a booking after resorting to a crude foul on the midfielder.

“I took a few kicks but it’s something I have got used to. I feel like in every game I can make an impact, I can decide a game,” he said.

With 56 touches in the first half — compared to just two for England captain Harry Kane — the relentless Bellingham was the Three Lions’ driving force.

“I felt really good coming into the game. You could see I was enjoying it. I wanted to get on the ball and build some energy,” Bellingham said.

England’s Euro campaign was starting in what was once known as the ‘city of a thousand fires’.

And Bellingham lit up the drab surrounds of Gelsenkirchen’s industrial heartland in such vibrant fashion that it is hard to imagine England’s stay in Germany being a slow burn.

He remained a blur of intelligent movement in the second half to keep Serbia at bay as England held on despite a nervy finish.

“This team is still so new, gelling together with every game,” Bellingham said.

Fittingly, he departed to a standing ovation when he was substituted in the closing stages.

Jude Bellingham already has a mural in his hometown of Stourbridge — a tribute that might well be upgraded to a statue if England get their hands on the trophy in Berlin on July 14.

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Italy recovered from conceding the fastest goal in European Championship history to begin their title defence with a 2-1 win over Albania on Saturday after Spain made a dream start to their Euro 2024 campaign by beating Croatia 3-0.

Albania went ahead after just 23 seconds against Italy in the Group B opener in Dortmund as Nedim Bajrami scored to the delight of their huge support.

Bajrami’s strike destroyed the previous record for the quickest goal at the Euros, of 67 seconds by Dmitri Kirichenko for Russia against Greece in 2004.

However, Italy kept their calm and equalised when Alessandro Bastoni headed in at the back post on 11 minutes, before Nicolo Barella’s glorious effort put them ahead just past the quarter-hour mark.

That proved to be enough for the Euro 2020 winners, with Davide Frattesi coming closest to adding another for the Italians as he hit the post before half-time.

“It was a negative situation but we did really well to turn it around,” said Italy’s Federico Chiesa, who played in the final three years ago when they came back to beat England on penalties despite conceding inside two minutes.

“We had a flashback to the Euro 2020 final when we went behind immediately, and we were great today because together we took control of the match as a team, just as the manager wants from us.”

Italy, whose line-up at kick-off featured only five players who started that final against England, now move on to a heavyweight showdown with Spain on Thursday in Gelsenkirchen.

Spain, the three-time European champions, made a dream start to their Euro 2024 campaign as they tore apart a disappointing Croatia at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

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Alvaro Morata broke the deadlock before the half-hour mark and Fabian Ruiz soon made it 2-0, with Dani Carvajal getting the third goal just prior to the interval.

The day was also notable for Lamine Yamal, Spain’s Barcelona winger, becoming the youngest player in the competition’s history at 16 years and 338 days old.

Morata’s goal was his seventh at the European Championship, a tally which allowed him to move joint-third on the all-time list alongside Alan Shearer and Antoine Griezmann.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo, with 14, and Michel Platini, who got all of his nine goals on France’s run to glory in 1984, are ahead of them.

“Of course this give us a boost, and settles us, but in five days we have a big game against Italy,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.

“Above all we have to stay calm, our target is still very far away, we have to just keep our feet on the ground.”

It was a chastening night for Croatia, the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists.

They thought they had claimed a consolation when substitute Bruno Petkovic tapped in after his penalty was saved by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon.

But the goal was ruled out by VAR for encroachment by Ivan Perisic, and Croatia now face Albania in a key game for both sides in Hamburg on Wednesday.

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MUNICH: Germany thrashed 10-man Scotland 5-1 as the Euro 2024 hosts kicked off the tournament in style here at Allianz Arena on Friday, the start of a journey they hope culminates in a record fourth continental title.

Florian Wirtz struck the opening goal 10 minutes in and Jamal Musiala soon doubled Germany’s lead with an emphatic finish.

“We couldn’t have had a better start. We’ve seen the atmosphere in the country, and we need that,” Musiala said of Germany’s lightning start.

A long-awaited night for Scotland went from bad to worse before half-time when Ryan Porteous was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Ilkay Gundogan, with Kai Havertz tucking away the resulting penalty.

Niclas Fuellkrug powered in a fourth midway through the second half after coming on as a substitute and not even a late own goal from Antonio Ruediger could spoil an otherwise perfect start to the campaign for Germany.

There was even time for Emre Can to add a fifth goal with the final kick of the game.

Scotland could surely not have envisioned such a disastrous beginning, but they must regroup quickly with games to come in Group A against Switzerland and Hungary.

“Today was hugely disappointing but you’re playing against the host nation and it’s the first game… things don’t get much tougher than that,” said Scotland captain Andy Robertson.

After three successive failures at major tournaments, including back-to-back group stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, this was a statement of intent from an experienced Germany side.

It is Germany’s first men’s major tournament as hosts since the 2006 World Cup, and they are looking to recreate the magic that helped rekindle the passion for the national team then.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann had spoken of his players’ hunger to atone for the shortcomings of recent times, with the outlook improving and optimism gradually increasing since his appointment in September.

His counterpart Steve Clarke on the other hand urged Scotland to “fear no one” going into the country’s second straight Euros after more than two decades in the international wilderness.

Almost right away Germany took the game to a Scotland side who arrived in Munich with only one win from their past nine matches — an unimpressive 2-0 victory over lowly Gibraltar last week.

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Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn alertly blocked from an offside Wirtz, but Germany soon grasped the match by the scruff of the neck.

Toni Kroos, coaxed out of his Germany retirement earlier this year, pinged a ball out to Joshua Kimmich, who teed up Wirtz to sweep in from the edge of the area as Gunn could only help the shot in via the post.

Kroos will hang up his boots for good after the tournament, but with him and Gundogan running the Germany midfield they bring a level of knowledge and maturity few can match.

Gundogan threaded a pass through the Scotland defence to Havertz, who worked it back towards Musiala, the Bayern Munich attacker creating himself space to crash a strike into the roof of the net.

Germany were initially awarded a penalty as Musiala went down in a heap after getting caught between Ryan Christie and Kieran Tierney, but referee Clement Turpin deemed the foul occurred outside the area after consulting the touchline monitor.

That merely delayed Germany’s third goal, which did eventually come from the spot following another VAR review that led to Porteous being sent off for a crude challenge on Gundogan.

Havertz calmly sent Gunn the wrong way and any remaining optimism drained away from Scotland’s once boisterous and sizeable travelling contingent of supporters.

Scotland tried to limit the damage in the second half, but there was no stopping Fuellkrug’s thumping drive into the top corner within a few minutes of his introduction as a replacement for Havertz.

The only bright spot for Scotland came three minutes from time as Ruediger inadvertently diverted Scott McKenna’s header past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

And there was still more punishment to come as substitute Can curled home from 20 yards at the death to cap a glorious night for the Germans.

Reigning European champions Italy, who failed to qualify for the last World Cup, get their title defence underway on Saturday against Albania in Dortmund.

Before that Spain take on Croatia in the opening Group B fixture in Berlin, but the day’s first match is between Hungary and Switzerland in Cologne.

READ: Croatia happy to be ‘dark horses’ again at Euro 2024, says Luka Modric

Luka Modric said on Friday that Croatia “don’t mind being dark horses” at Euro 2024 despite consistently performing above expectations at recent major tournaments.

Zlatko Dalic’s men kick off their Euro campaign against Spain in Group B at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Saturday, as they bid to reach the knockout phase for a fifth consecutive major tournament.

Croatia made the final at the 2018 World Cup, losing to France, and then finished third in Qatar two years ago.

Despite those successes, Croatia are again not being touted as one of the favourites for the title in Germany, with France, England, the hosts and Portugal widely considered the leading contenders.

“Being the dark horses, we dont mind about that,” Modric told a pre-match press conference.

“Everyone else being the favourites, us being the dark horses, we’re used to that. We have to show our unity…

“We’re here to make a big result. I think we’ve shown in last the few years we belong at the top of European football.

“In these championships we’ve missed the last step to make a really good result. I hope we can do that at this tournament and really do something big.”

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Luka Modric, who lifted his sixth Champions League title with Real Madrid earlier this month, is playing in his ninth major international tournament.

The midfielder made his tournament debut at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and was an unused substitute in Croatia’s opening game of that event, a 1-0 loss to Brazil at the Olympiastadion.

“I’ve always believed in myself,” he said. “But I’ve always said if someone gave me a piece of paper and said ‘Write down what you want to achieve in your career’, I definitely would’ve been afraid to write all this down. I didn’t expect all this to happen.

“After all these years, though, here I am.

“I remember 2006, it was a phenomenal atmosphere in this stadium. I hope this will be the case tomorrow and on the pitch we’ll give a lot to our supporters to be joyful about.”

Croatia have been handed a tricky draw, with a game against reigning champions Italy in Leipzig rounding out their group campaign on June 24, after a match with Albania in Hamburg next Wednesday.

“We have the hardest group, that’s a fact, everyone admits that. So, with Italy, Spain, I think that the start is important,” said coach Dalic.

“We would like not to lose, but it’s not our aim. We wish to show ourselves in the best light possible to make a good start.

“We would like to win, with respect to our opponents who have a great national team. Of course it will be difficult, a very demanding match, but our national team is very powerful.”

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Poland captain Robert Lewandowski will miss his country’s Euro 2024 opener this weekend with a thigh injury, the Polish football federation’s doctor said on Tuesday.

Lewandowski, 35, will be absent to face the Netherlands on June 16 after suffering the injury in Monday’s 2-1 win in a friendly against Turkey.

Poland then play Austria on June 21 and the tournament’s joint favourites France four days later.

“We are doing everything so that Robert can play in the second match against Austria,” doctor Jacek Jaroszewski said in a statement.

Barcelona forward Lewandowski was substituted after just 33 minutes on his 150th international appearance as Poland ended their Euro 2024 preparations with a victory.

Following the game, Poland coach Michal Probierz had been upbeat about Robert Lewandowski’s injury, saying he was “optimistic” and “there shouldn’t be a problem”.

The absence of the former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich player adds to the injury worries for Probierz.

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Hellas Verona attacker Karol Swiderski sustained an ankle injury while celebrating the opening goal against Turkey.

Swiderski’s club team-mate, defender Pawel Dawidowicz, strained his quadriceps during the game.

“After treatment, both players should return to full training within 3-4 days,” Jaroszewski.

Probierz will be without another striker for the tournament after Arkadiusz Milik suffered a knee injury in the warmup victory against Ukraine on Friday.

The Italian club said Milik had undergone minor surgery, without stating the length of his absence.

Probierz’s fit options in attack in his squad are Istanbul Basaksehir’s Krzysztof Piatek and Antalyaspor’s Adam Buksa.

The pair have 17 goals in 44 appearances for their country.

Poland are unbeaten in eight games and have reached the past three European Championship finals, making it to the quarter-finals in 2016.

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Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has included Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong in his final 26-man squad for Euro 2024 despite the fact he is still recovering from an ankle injury.

Koeman has however left out left-back Ian Maatsen, who has played a key role in Borussia Dortmund’s progress to the Champions League final against Real Madrid on Saturday but has never played for his country’s senior side.

The coach has placed his trust at left-back in the duo of Nathan Ake, fresh from winning the Premier League title with Manchester City, and the veteran Daley Blind.

De Jong suffered the injury in Barcelona’s 3-2 defeat by Real Madrid in the Clasico on April 21 — the third time this season he had suffered ankle issues — but is expected to return to training on Saturday, just under two weeks before the Euros kick-off.

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Fitness concerns also surround Atletico Madrid forward Memphis Depay.

The Netherlands, who have won the European crown once in 1988, are in Group D with France, Austria and Poland.

They will play Canada on June 6 and Iceland four days later in warm-up games.

Netherlands’ squad for Euro 2024

Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Mark Flekken (Brentford/ENG), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton/ENG)

Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City/ENG), Daley Blind (Girona/ESP), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan/ITA), Lutsharel Geertruida (Feyenoord), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan/ITA), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich/GER), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool/ENG)

Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona/ESP), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool/ENG), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta/ITA), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan/ITA), Jerdy Schouten (PSV Eindhoven), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig/GER), Joey Veerman (PSV Eindhoven), Georginio Wijnaldum (Al Ettifaq/KSA)

Forwards: Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Brian Brobbey (Ajax), Memphis Depay (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool/ENG), Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Wout Weghorst (Hoffenheim/GER)

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Spain coach Luis de la Fuente named Barcelona’s teenage stars Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi in a 29-man Euro 2024 squad list on Monday.

De la Fuente must cut three players before June 7 for the tournament that kicks off in Germany on June 14.

Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez and Real Betis’ Ayoze Perez also get their first-ever international call-ups.

De la Fuente left out various players who have been involved in the last few years, including Marco Asensio, Gerard Moreno and Pablo Sarabia.

Yamal, 16, has burst into the limelight this season with Barcelona, along with 17-year-old centre-back Cubarsi.

The coach said he had included three extra players to account for potential injuries before then, with Real Madrid competing in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1.

“It’s a guarantee against any set-back that could happen in the Champions League final, or in training, that would generate a problem,” said the coach.

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“They all have the same chance (of going), we will minimise risks, we have very versatile players.”

Spain, who won the European Championship in 1964, 2008 and 2012, reached the semi-finals of the last edition.

They are in a ‘group of death’, facing Italy, Croatia and Albania in Group B.

Before the tournament Spain face Andorra on June 5 and Northern Ireland on June 8 in friendlies.

Spain squad for Euro 2024

Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad), David Raya (Arsenal/ENG)

Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Nacho Fernandez (Real Madrid), Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr/KSA), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/ENG)

Midfielders: Rodri Hernandez (Manchester City/ENG), Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Pedri, Fermin Lopez (both Barcelona), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Aleix Garcia (Girona)

Forwards: Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Joselu (Real Madrid), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig/GER), Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres (both Barcelona), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ayoze Perez (Real Betis)

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Olivier Giroud, the record goal scorer of France, is to retire from international football after Euro 2024, the World Cup-winning striker told Friday’s edition of L’Equipe.

Giroud, who will turn 38 in September, said it was time for the younger generation to have a chance at the international level.

The former Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan striker, who joins MLS outfit Los Angeles FC following the European Championship, has scored 57 goals in 131 international appearances.

He broke Thierry Henry’s national goalscoring record of 51 at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar where France did not surrender the title they won in 2018 easily, losing to Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina on penalties in the final.

“To be honest, this will be my last tournament with France,” said Giroud, who was first capped in a friendly against the United States in November 2011.

“Obviously I will miss it a lot. But I believe as regards ‘Les Bleus’, it will be game over after Euro.

“It is time to leave the stage to the young.

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“If I triumph in the Euro, I can say that I won everything apart from the Premier League, which is very difficult to win,” he said, adding that the 60-goal milestone was not an obsession for him.

Olivier Giroud, who made his name at Montpellier by inspiring the unfashionable club to the 2012 Ligue 1 title, says he believes he still has enough in his legs to pursue a club career.

“I still think I have two years in me, but for the France team in my opinion it has come to an end,” said Giroud, who was also a member of the team under Didier Deschamps that reached the Euro 2016 final.

“Time is beginning to catch up with me and I have thought about it long and hard.

“Playing every three days is becoming more and more difficult, especially at the international level.

“I am, though, not going to Los Angeles to be a tourist, but I think it is the right moment for me.”

Giroud’s long career has been rewarded not only with the 2018 World Cup winners medal but also the 2019 Champions League with Chelsea, the 2022 Serie A championship with AC Milan and four FA Cup victories (three with Arsenal, one with Chelsea).

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