Olivier Giroud might not be a Formula One car, but the France international is certainly no go-kart - despite what Karim Benzema had to say earlier this week.
Quite what Benzema was thinking when he made those remarks during his Instagram Live video only he will know. It would be insulting to any top level player, let alone a World Cup winner who has collected bucketloads of silverware during his career. For all Benzema has achieved during his glittering career with Real Madrid, that is one thing he doesn’t have on his CV.
There is no doubting the 32-year-old’s quality. On the pitch Benzema is a class act; you don’t score 218 goals for Real Madrid and stay at the Bernabeu for 11 years if you are not a quality player.
But football is not just about natural talent. It’s about hard work, dedication, and playing for your team-mates. Giroud does all that and more and that’s why he has always been appreciated by his colleagues wherever he has played.
“I love Olivier Giroud, he's a good player and he helped us win the World Cup. And that's important in life,” were the words of Antoine Griezmann when asked about his international strike partner.
And Griezmann should love Giroud because a lot of the success he has had while wearing the France shirt - including at the 2018 World Cup - has been down to the work the Chelsea forward has put in alongside him.
In Benzema’s defence, that is at least something he admitted when asked to explain his ‘go-kart’ comment.
“Griezmann and [Kylian] Mbappe get seen more while he rolls his sleeves up and does the dirty work,” said Benzema. “But does everyone like his game? I don’t know.”
Well, Giroud’s team-mates - past and present - certainly like his game. Just ask Aaron Ramsey, who has the Frenchman to thank for his two FA Cup-winning goals for Arsenal.
It may have been Ramsey who got the glory at Wembley in 2014 and 2017, but it was Giroud’s quality and quick thinking that set him for the strikes that saw off Hull City and Chelsea.
“He’s a fantastic player with many qualities,” said Ramsey to the Arsenal website on the occasion of Giroud's 100th Gunners goal. “I think he’s great.
“He can score a lot of goals, he’s very good technically and his link up play is very good.
“I like to play off him. He has a good understanding of the runs that I make and I try to play off him. We’ve had a few goals where we’ve combined well together.”
That combination play Ramsey talks about was so key to Arsenal while Giroud was at the club. When you think of some of their best goals in the last 10 years, Giroud was often at the heart of them.
The Jack Wilshere goal against Norwich and Tomas Rosicky’s against Sunderland are prime examples. Both sensational team goals - two goals that perfectly encapsulated ‘Wenger Ball’ - and two goals that would not have been possible without Giroud’s link-up play and deft touch.
Giroud is 33 now and still has plenty to offer at the top level, despite finding himself bizarrely marginalised by Frank Lampard at Chelsea earlier this season. But when he does eventually hang up his boots he will be be able to look back on a stellar career.
In France he finished as the top scorer in Ligue 1 as he fired Montpellier to the club’s first-ever league title in 2012. He then got his £12 million move to Arsenal and went on to score 105 goals for the Gunners, a number that places him 18th on the all-time top-scorer list.
He won three FA Cups during his time in north London, scoring in one final and setting up the winning goal in the other two. He also won the Puskas Award for his sensational scorpion kick against Crystal Palace in 2017
Giroud moved to Chelsea in January 2018 and won the FA Cup again a few months later, scoring in the semi-final success against Southampton.
Then in his first full season at Stamford Bridge he scored 11 goals during Chelsea’s successful Europa League campaign, more than any other player in the competition, including the all-important first goal in the final against former club.
So it's clear to see that Giroud’s quality speaks for itself, as does his CV. And it’s not just at club level that he has excelled.
For France he has scored 39 goals in 97 caps. He is his country’s third all-time record goalscorer and just 12 behind current chart-topper Thierry Henry. He averages 0.4 goals per game at international level, a strike rate that is just a fraction behind that of Henry (0.41).
For context, prior to being banished from the national team by Didier Deschamps, Benzema had scored 27 goals in 81 appearances for France, with a strike rate of 0.33.
So Giroud’s record stacks up with the very best. The numbers and his medal collection prove that.
A Formula One car? Perhaps not. But the Frenchman has shown he can still keep pace with the best of them.
YoungBale
0
The French players who played with him on the pitch think otherwise. And by the way you don’t have to insult to make your point, just shows how you are uncivilized and uneducated. Peace out ✌🏿
lol so true
venacdkmu
0
Sorry but all those Chelsea fans are so stupid how can you even think that Giroud is better than benzema really?? See been at Real Madrid for 11 year and 220 goal u think Giroud can even dream of doing that what was the role of Giroud at the world 🌏 cup nothing a whole competition without a short on target an u call dat a world cup winner he is of no different with a players who spend the whole competition on the bench
Also the player who benzema played with think dat he is the best 9 in the world
Yeucemors
2
I am very disappointed in Benzema. A professional player speaking in that manner
viaaknrsyz
2
Sorry but all those Chelsea fans are so stupid how can you even think that Giroud is better than benzema really?? See been at Real Madrid for 11 year and 220 goal u think Giroud can even dream of doing that what was the role of Giroud at the world 🌏 cup nothing a whole competition without a short on target an u call dat a world cup winner he is of no different with a players who spend the whole competition on the bench
Keep your mouth shut.. that’s the best thing
Daocpstyz
0
what has he won with Lyon?
ligue1 four times ans cup
vauacenpru
3
I am an hardened France fan and truly believe Benzema is an overrated player often trying to be in zidanes shadow as a fellow Algerian to gain admiration and praise, he's a more clinicla goal scorer than Giroud for certain but he is not a game changer he always or lineup with some of the best players in the world both at Real Madrid and whilst playing for France, Giroud might not be a clinical finisher but he's a versatile team player and he's shown his worth at the 2018 world cup without scoring a single goal.
Numdmnsty
1
Every striker better than useless Benzema
Andy_Mac
0
Sorry but all those Chelsea fans are so stupid how can you even think that Giroud is better than benzema really?? See been at Real Madrid for 11 year and 220 goal u think Giroud can even dream of doing that what was the role of Giroud at the world 🌏 cup nothing a whole competition without a short on target an u call dat a world cup winner he is of no different with a players who spend the whole competition on the bench
Benzema may be the more accomplished striker but he's not a better player for one very big reason. He doesn't respect his teammates. How can you be a good player when you can't respect your teammates? He created a scene with Valbuena and now with Giroud. Yes, he's not in the team anymore but with this level of arrogance shown in front of the media, imagine how much worse he'd be in person. He is not worthy to be a World Cup winner or even in the France team because his attitude let him down while Giroud has been more professional than him. You talk about strikers who didn't score in the World Cup. Even Lewandowski, Gabriel Jesus, and Timo Werner didn't score goals and yet people hype them up. Why is nobody talking about them? Giroud has more goals for France than Benzema and that counts. Benzema should thank his lucky stars that Zidane returned to Real Madrid or else his career would have gone downhill. That's a fact.
venacdkmu
0
Sorry but all those Chelsea fans are so stupid how can you even think that Giroud is better than benzema really?? See been at Real Madrid for 11 year and 220 goal u think Giroud can even dream of doing that what was the role of Giroud at the world 🌏 cup nothing a whole competition without a short on target an u call dat a world cup winner he is of no different with a players who spend the whole competition on the bench
Jiodilmtuz
2
Benzema need to try coronavirus on this one🤣 since he think he’s better than that great Giroud
femoochi2
0
what about Lyon in france
what has he won with Lyon?
genius_mahazma
1
You don’t confuse a World Cup winner and a UEFA champions league winner.Why don’t Benzema comes to EPL and struggle
Daocpstyz
0
If i can follow Madrid fans then i will go for Giroud because they once said the best player should try to win in different clubs and league which Benzema has not done yet
what about Lyon in france
juuikprsy
0
Benzema is a better player with bad character... I go for Giroud
Mystola
0
Henry > Benzema > Giroud in that order
[image]
I never said something like that my whole life but ok Benzema proved himself before joining Madrid
Yumacestyz
1
Giroud has had a glittering career but believe it or not Benzema is better than him on any day. when you even talk about sacrifices for teammates its benzema when Ronaldo was at Madrid.
my bro don't lie to ur self dat benzema sacrifice for ronaldo .DAT is not de reason bro ,is because Rinaldo pocketed him .he was under de shadows of ronaldo..
NicolaiWilliams
1
all those who are saying Giroud is benched at Chelsea I want you to know Lampard would put Benzema on his bench too and that is facts
NicolaiWilliams
1
Henry > Benzema > Giroud in that order
[image]
Benzema need to go to a next club and prove himself like Giroud but Madrid fan won't say so they only want Messi to go to another club to prove himself smh
ronnie_luv
3
FOOTBALL GETS SUSPENDED DUE TO CORONA *next day, Irrelevant articles come out* 😂😂
Nesaiknruy_Legend
4
Giroud lives rent free in Benzema head cos he has the 1 cup Benzema will never get and that makes benzema salty as it's the only one he wont have from the big ones... you can taste the salt lol
Adu2473
2
Benzema is as wrong as Real Madrid appointing him as a pure #9
keueprst
3
If i can follow Madrid fans then i will go for Giroud because they once said the best player should try to win in different clubs and league which Benzema has not done yet
hupbckmnuz
0
this is one of the underlying reasons benzema have been banished from the french team. that guy have lots of character problems
KarimRashid
5
Giroud has had a glittering career but believe it or not Benzema is better than him on any day. when you even talk about sacrifices for teammates its benzema when Ronaldo was at Madrid.
ankitttttttttrtr
0
Bale is your real father hijde
Nice way to talk. If you don't have an argument you come to insults. Don't even know what's the context. Hope you get senses and educated to know how to respond.
Ameerul24
0
Aguero is better than Benzema
very obvious
Ceoekost
0
And before you give me International stats, let me tell you they both don't have much difference, and Benzema performance recently have been better. and deserve a place. I will look at overall record and assist and all
Bale is your real father hijde
fidbknr
9
Benzema shd not talk like that. Let's hope he was just joking. I mean there is nothing bad blood btn him and Giroud ,who is a wonderful and humble player. U never hear Giroud boast or anything like that. Same as Benzema. So it's surprising that he would speak like that. Success everywhere u will go comes as a collection, especially in football. U need a team of be successful in football. And u need to be grateful to your teammates. Giroud wouldn't have bn WC winner without the likes of Mbappe , Griezmann,Pogba scoring goals at different stages of the WC campaign;same applies to Benzema,he wouldn't have bn muilt UCL winner ,leagues ,cups without the likes CR7 ,Ramos ,and more. CR7 wouldn't have a single national cup to show for his 100+ international goals if not for the likes of Eder , Bernardo Silvia etc scoring vital goals in the finals. No matter how good u are ,u need your teammates in football. Soccer isn't tennis or any one- man competition. Therefore, it's wrong to boast of how much or many trophies u have won. Only immature players do that.
AlhassanAguri
4
Giroud has better numbers than Benzema. I hate Benzema
Jekdmnpty
0
Aguero is better than Benzema
definitely
bicbdnty
2
Aguero is better than Benzema
bicbdnty
1
Henry > Benzema > Giroud in that order
[image]
Henry has a world cup, I don't see his in that picture
ankitttttttttrtr
0
See the stats. That don't lie. See it after Ronaldo too. Giroud is benched by Tommy Abraham who is youngster. You can't argue who is better player. You tell me, who is a better footballer, Giroud or Benzema? And if you think Giroud, then give me some stats.
And before you give me International stats, let me tell you they both don't have much difference, and Benzema performance recently have been better. and deserve a place. I will look at overall record and assist and all
ankitttttttttrtr
0
That be the case I will say Ben is fortunate to play with Ronaldo because he gave all the glories. Note if not if zidane he will be playing with everton by now
See the stats. That don't lie. See it after Ronaldo too. Giroud is benched by Tommy Abraham who is youngster. You can't argue who is better player. You tell me, who is a better footballer, Giroud or Benzema? And if you think Giroud, then give me some stats.
PapaGino
1
You could say anything. But you cant deny the fact Benzema is a better player and he deserves a place.
That be the case I will say Ben is fortunate to play with Ronaldo because he gave all the glories. Note if not if zidane he will be playing with everton by now
Mystola
3
Henry > Benzema > Giroud in that order
ankitttttttttrtr
0
Read the initial article well you will understand Giroud did ok. Football is a team sport
Yes it's a team sport but Giroud contribution as a striker is very minimal. See this year he is even playing for Chelsea. It's not a hate. You chose better players. If Benzema would have played for that world cup team, he could not play worse than Giroud. He didn't score a goal as a striker in such a brilliant team. Benzema is clearly better player.
PapaGino
0
They are world cup holders but not because of Giroud. Let me ask you a simple question, you chose a best team you have. In this case Benzema is a better striker which is a simple fact. If they lose Euro because of lack of goal, then there is no point to realise. You chose best players for your team and Benzema is better. Simple fact.
Read the initial article well you will understand Giroud did ok. Football is a team sport
ankitttttttttrtr
0
Deserves a place where? France is doing fine with Giroud upfront. They are World Cup holders remember!!!
They are world cup holders but not because of Giroud. Let me ask you a simple question, you chose a best team you have. In this case Benzema is a better striker which is a simple fact. If they lose Euro because of lack of goal, then there is no point to realise. You chose best players for your team and Benzema is better. Simple fact.
PapaGino
1
You could say anything. But you cant deny the fact Benzema is a better player and he deserves a place.
Deserves a place where? France is doing fine with Giroud upfront. They are World Cup holders remember!!!
ankitttttttttrtr
0
Ronaldo left Benzema starts talking
You could say anything. But you cant deny the fact Benzema is a better player and he deserves a place.
Anam__7
2
Benzema is Better Than Giroud.....He Just made a Joke
__kat02
4
seriously? u guys created this long article over words said by a guy as a joke 🤣 the writer is hating his life without football 😂
PapaGino
3
Ronaldo left Benzema starts talking
Diecdilmuz
1
Benzema is right....
madarista
1
See you need to go way back to Arsenal few games to prove point whereas Benzema is doing that consistently for long time. Even if you thing Giroud earlier was better which K don't agree, currently Benzema is much better than Giroud and deserve a place in the team. Giroud is not even the first choice for Chelsea now. How can you ask bench player to replace Benzema. Benzema is ahead than him and he deserve a place.
exactly bro
ankitttttttttrtr
1
The is no doubt that Giroud is a one of the world class strikers in the world n he comes up during the game when the team needs him the most..remember when he scored late goals consecutively for arsenal when they needed them the most..dat guy is class u cant count on him no doubt he was so unlucky to not scored in the world cup but he was one of the key players...Benzema might think he is better dan him but what they offer is not the same..therefore i go for Giroud ..its just dat he is underrated..
See you need to go way back to Arsenal few games to prove point whereas Benzema is doing that consistently for long time. Even if you thing Giroud earlier was better which K don't agree, currently Benzema is much better than Giroud and deserve a place in the team. Giroud is not even the first choice for Chelsea now. How can you ask bench player to replace Benzema. Benzema is ahead than him and he deserve a place.
Cassiusjr10
4
The is no doubt that Giroud is a one of the world class strikers in the world n he comes up during the game when the team needs him the most..remember when he scored late goals consecutively for arsenal when they needed them the most..dat guy is class u cant count on him no doubt he was so unlucky to not scored in the world cup but he was one of the key players...Benzema might think he is better dan him but what they offer is not the same..therefore i go for Giroud ..its just dat he is underrated..