Euro 2020: Olivier Giroud, 34, insists he has NO plans to call time on his international career

‘I’m not finished…grandpa is not dead!’: Olivier Giroud, 34, insists he still has the ‘hunger of a 20-year-old’ and has NO plans to call time on his international career with France

Olivier Giroud has insisted that he has no plans to retire from international football after Euro 2020.

The 34-year-old has been on the fringes for France so far at the tournament. Having been an unused substitute against Germany, he was brought on as a substitute in the 76th minute against Hungary.

Giroud, however, stated that he still has the hunger of a 20-year-old.  

Olivier Giroud insisted that he has no plans to retire from international football after Euro 2020

Giroud told Le Figaro: ‘I’m not finished, far from it. Count on me, grandpa is not dead!’

‘I’m almost 35 but have the hunger of a 20-year-old guy.’

With France able to call upon a star-studded attacking triumvirate of Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, it seems unlikely that Giroud will be a regular starter for Les Bleus unless one of the other forwards is unavailable.

Giroud says he provides a different option to Antoine Griezmann (L), Kylian Mbappe (C) and Karim Beznema (R)

Giroud says he provides a different option to Antoine Griezmann (L), Kylian Mbappe (C) and Karim Beznema (R)

Giroud, though, has full faith in himself and believes that his aerial prowess is a useful asset.

He said: ‘The France team has a fairly incredible strike force, but I have a card to play because there are no other players with my profile. I am here to respond and bring what I want.

‘I know how to do it with the team. I have the desire and, if the young people want to move me, they will have to be ready too.’

Despite being 34, Giroud was eager to point out that he still has the hunger of a 20-year-old

Despite being 34, Giroud was eager to point out that he still has the hunger of a 20-year-old

Since making his France debut in 2011, Giroud has gone on to make 109 appearances for his country.

During that period Giroud has scored 46 times and is just five adrift of France’s all-time leading goalscorer Thierry Henry. Giroud was part of the France’s World Cup winning squad in 2018 but didn’t find the net at that tournament. 

The Chelsea striker will hope to be involved in some capacity when France, who have already secured their place in the last-16, conclude the group stages against Portugal on Wednesday. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk