Olivier Giroud says his team are keen for revenge against Germany
after setting up a semi-final clash with Germany with a 5-2
victory over Iceland in Paris. Giroud netted twice – the first of which came
after just 12 minutes – as Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and Antoine
Griezmann also got on the scoresheet, building a 4-0 lead at half-time
on the way to a convincing victory.
The Arsenal striker, who won man of the match for his display, told
reporters after the game: “From my perspective I am pleased, no more
than that. I am very happy for the team, my family and the French public
as a whole.
“I don’t know whether that is my best performance for France, I have
had other good games. But out of the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 it is
probably my best in a major tournament.
“I felt really good physically right from the start of the match. We
are used to making bad starts to matches and we changed that. We need to
retain that.
“We were on top form the first minute and we were very clinical.”
While Giroud was happy to see France avoid another slow start against
Iceland, he admitted the prospect of world champions Germany in the
semi-final is a completely different proposition.
“They are the world champions and they are often in the last four of major tournaments,” he said.
“We have a lot of desire to try and get our own back for what
happened in the World Cup [a 1-0 quarter-final defeat in 2014]. We beat
them here in a friendly [2-0 in November] but it will be completely
different.
“I hope in Marseille the French public are as excitable as they were [in Paris against Iceland] and will support us all the way.
“We are lucky enough to play a semi-final in front of a home crowd.
“I am very proud of what this side is achieving and I hope that once again we will come up with the right result.”
