The kart put France in the semifinal of the World Cup. Oliver Giroud scored the team’s qualifying goal over England in the quarter-finals. He scored the second of the 2-1 victory this Saturday (10), at the Al Bayt stadium.
In 2018, after winning the World Cup in Russia, the striker was mocked for not having scored a single goal in the seven matches of the tournament. One to do so was Karim Benzema, who was not called up to the national team due to off-field problems.
He defined himself as an F1 car. Giroud would be a kart.
“I’m a world champion kart”, returned the still number 9 of France.
Giroud shouldn’t even be in the starting lineup. The position returned to Benzema last year. But the current holder of the Ballon d’Or for best player in Europe was injured shortly before the start of the World Cup.
Giroud’s goal was his fourth at the Qatar World Cup. He is the competition’s top scorer. He is second only to teammate Kylian Mbappé (five).
Next Wednesday (14th), again at the Al Bayt stadium, France will face Morocco for a place in the final. The European team is, in theory, 180 minutes away from being the first country since Brazil (1958-1962) to win two consecutive World Cups.
This Saturday’s match sums up what England is all about in Hearts. He is capable of dominating games, creating chances, cheering up his fans and disappointing them in the end.
Giroud was not the only French standout. Antoine Griezmann paraded on the field in the first 45 minutes without being watched by any opponent. It was as if England were concentrating on how to stop Kylian Mbappé and had forgotten about the attacking midfielder.
In the days leading up to the game, the main commentary was the dispute between the two fastest players in the World Cup. Mbappé reached a speed of 35.3 km/h in the tournament. Kyle Walker, his marker, hit at 34.4 km/h.
Perhaps the English had in mind the one who left Atlético de Madrid in 2019, played little in Barcelona and returned to the capital the following year. The 2018 post-title cycle for Griezmann was low-key. But at the World Cup, it’s like he’s another player.
He rolled for Tchouaméni to shoot from distance at 16. It was strong, well placed, but goalkeeper Pickford could have done better. At the origin of the play, there was a foul by the Frenchman Upamecano on Saka, ignored by the referee led by the Brazilian Wilton Pereira Sampaio.
England started to force the game on the right with Henderson and Saka and managed to enter the France area, but without finishing with danger. The defending champions began to wait for the counterattack. That was when, in theory Mbappé should have an advantage over Walker. Until the break, this did not happen.
The English had no reason to change strategy because Saka had a clear advantage over Theo Hernández’s marking. When he was brought down in the area at six of the additional stage, Harry Kane equalized with a penalty at 8 minutes. He didn’t hit the middle of the goal, as he sometimes does for Tottenham Hotspur. French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris knows him well and also plays for the team.
It looked like England would turn. Bukayo Saka was the man on the field and was in danger every time he got the ball. He could have made the second in conclusion almost inside the small area.
The current world champions were cowering, looking scared. Increasingly confident on the field, England looked destined for the semi-final.
This lasted until Griezmann, again free and decisive, found Giroud in the area with a cross in the 32nd minute. It was the bet that the English defense would fail. And who made a mistake was not the cursed (by several members of the British fans) Harry Maguire. Manchester City’s John Stones didn’t even jump.
Who should have been so decisive was Harry Kane. His country’s main player, he had another penalty to tie once more and take the decision to overtime. He sent the ball into the stands.
The image of Oliviera Giroud being France’s killer in World Cups is new. It appeared in 2022. But the number 9 winner with his selection is old. It happened in 2018 and it could happen again in 2022. Like a kart that always gets ahead.
As a seasoned news journalist, I bring a wealth of experience to the field. I’ve worked with world-renowned news organizations, honing my skills as a writer and reporter. Currently, I write for the sports section at News Bulletin 247, where I bring a unique perspective to every story.
