Tag: Olivier Giroud

France legend Giroud makes LAFC debut in Leagues Cup win

The veteran forward came on as a second-half substitute in an easy win

Olivier Giroud made his LAFC debut on Tuesday night as the club defeated the San Jose Earthquakes in the Leagues Cup round of 16.

Giroud came on 71 minutes into the match at BMO Stadium, with the home fans giving the France striker a huge ovation upon his entrance.

LAFC was up 4-1 at the time of Giroud’s entrance, which would end up as the final score.

“I was looking forward to playing on this pitch in front of this amazing crowd, my family and friends also,” Giroud said after the game.

“I received a warm welcome from everyone at the club, the staff and the players, everyone is working as a club. I felt like I was welcomed like a part of the family. I wish I could play even more than tonight, but obviously it’s better to restart step by step and I’m looking forward to the next game.”

The 37-year-old signed for LAFC in May, but wasn’t eligible to play for the MLS club until the transfer window opened in July.

In the meantime, Giroud made four appearances for France at Euro 2024, with the nation’s all-time leading men’s scorer calling time on his international career after his country’s run ended in the semifinal.

Next up for LAFC is a Leagues Cup quarterfinal at the Seattle Sounders on Saturday night. The winner will face either Club América or the Colorado Rapids in the semifinals.

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Pulisic salutes Giroud after France striker confirms AC Milan exit

The pair spent three seasons as teammates over two different clubs

Christian Pulisic has paid tribute to Olivier Giroud after the striker announced he is leaving AC Milan.

Giroud confirmed the end of his three-year spell at San Siro, saying he was joining a MLS club ahead of a widely reported move to Los Angeles FC.

Pulisic and Giroud spent one season playing together at Milan, the second club at which they were teammates. The U.S. and France internationals also played alongside one another at Chelsea from 2019 to 2021.

After demonstrating real chemistry during their time at Chelsea, Pulisic and Giroud have continued that connection in Milan. Giroud has assisted two of Pulisic’s 15 goals with Milan this season, while Pulisic has provided the assist on three of Giroud’s 16 goals.

Pulisic assisted Giroud on May 5 against Genoa in what could be the striker’s final goal for the Rossoneri, unless he finds the net in one of the club’s final two games this season.

After Giroud announced he was leaving Milan on Monday, Pulisic sent a message via his Instagram story.

“Lucky to have graced the pitch with this guy,” the USMNT star wrote while reposting a tribute video from Milan.

Pulisic also participated in a tribute video from Milan featuring messages from many of the striker’s current teammates.

“I feel like I’ve learned so much thanks to you and we’ve had an amazing connection on the pitch,” Pulisic said.

Pulisic and Giroud will have two more chances to play as teammates. Milan faces Torino on Saturday and Salernitana on May 26 to wrap up a campaign that has already seen the club clinch second place in Serie A.

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Giroud confirms MLS move as striker announces AC Milan departure

The is set to join longtime international teammate Hugo Lloris with LAFC

Veteran striker Olivier Giroud has announced he will leave AC Milan to continue his career in MLS.

The 37-year-old has been reported to be on his way to Los Angeles FC, where he’ll sign after leaving Milan as a free agent at the end of the current campaign.

On Monday, the France striker made his Milan departure official in a video released through the club’s official media channels.

“I’m here to tell you the next two games will be my last for Milan,” Giroud said. “My career will continue in MLS.

“I’m very, very proud of everything I’ve done for Milan in these three years. It’s the right time to announce it. Sorry, I’m a bit emotional. My story with Milan ends this year but Milan will remain in my heart forever.”

Giroud is tied for fourth in the Serie A scoring charts this season, tallying 14 league goals for the Rossoneri. The striker helped Milan win the Serie A title in 2021-22, his first season with the club after joining from Chelsea.

With 57 goals in 131 caps, Giroud is France’s all-time leading men’s national team scorer. He is expected to be part of the team’s roster this summer for Euro 2024.

After that tournament, the forward is set to join longtime international teammate Hugo Lloris with the Black & Gold.

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Giroud reportedly set for LAFC move this summer

Giroud could well be linking up with France teammate Hugo Lloris in the near future

Olivier Giroud is set to be the latest big name to move from Europe to MLS.

Per The Athletic, the AC Milan striker is in the final stages of contract talks with Los Angeles FC over a summer transfer that would come once his contract with the Rossoneri expires.

Giroud, 37, would join fellow France veteran Hugo Lloris on LAFC’s roster should the move go through. The MLS summer transfer window opens on July 18, less than a week after the end of Euro 2024.

With 56 goals in 130 caps, Giroud — France’s all-time leading scorer on the men’s side — is still a pivotal player for les Bleus, and barring injury is expected to play in that tournament.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that LAFC made a formal offer in recent days, with both sides nearing an agreement.

Giroud has had a strong season in Milan, leading the line as Stefano Pioli’s first-choice striker. In 36 total appearances this season, Giroud has a team-leading 14 goals, while his nine assists are third-best on the squad.

Should the move come off, Giroud will give LAFC an out-and-out No. 9 presence that the club has lacked since Cristian “Chicho” Arango’s departure after the 2022 season. Last year, Carlos Vela largely functioned as a false No. 9; since the Mexican forward’s departure this winter, that role has gone to midfielder Mateusz Bogusz.

The club has certainly worked to keep the door open for a signing in line with Giroud, with 2023 MLS Golden Boot winner Dénis Bouanga currently LAFC’s only Designated Player. Steve Cherundolo’s side has had a history with signing prominent, aging European stars, with Gareth Bale playing a critical role in the club’s 2022 MLS Cup triumph.

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Christian Pulisic to reunite with buddy Olivier Giroud in Italy

Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic had great chemistry together at Chelsea and they are now reuniting at AC Milan.

Christian Pulisic is taking his talents to Italy, leaving Chelsea and the Premier League to join AC Milan in Serie A.

In Milan, Pulisic will reunite with several old friends and teammates, including Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Olivier Giroud, the French striker who scored 18 goals and added seven assists in all competitions with the Rossoneri last season.

Pulisic and Giroud were teammates at Chelsea from 2019 to 2021, winning the Champions League together during the 2020-21 season. They had quite the connection in England, one that was put on display in July 2020.

Before a game against Norwich City, video from a tunnel camera appeared to show Giroud giving Pulisic specific instructions for a pass from the wing. Pulisic seemed to follow those instructions perfectly, because he delivered a well-placed cross to Giroud from the left wing just before halftime.

Giroud scored what ended up being the deciding goal in a 1-0 victory:

Giroud was clearly pleased with Pulisic’s pass, so much so that he shoved a teammate out of the way so he could celebrate with the American before anyone else.

Giroud left Chelsea after the 2020-2021 season to join AC Milan. During an interview on “Morning Footy” in May, Giroud was asked about his time in England and his on-field connection with Pulisic.

“My understanding on the pitch with him was top, a bit like Eden [Hazard], even if I played less with Christian,” Giroud told CBS Sports. “He was that kind of player who is very skillful. He can dribble, he can play the one-two — he knew how to use me on the pitch and vice versa. We had good times together. … He’s a very, very talented player.”

They are now reunited in Italy and the 24-year-old Pulisic should have plenty of opportunities to send in more crosses to Giroud after the 36-year-old striker signed a contract extension with Milan in April.

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Olivier Giroud equals Thierry Henry’s goal record as France thumps Australia at World Cup

Based on how France played, Giroud’s got a serious Golden Boot chance

France steamrolled Australia at the World Cup on Tuesday, and Olivier Giroud used the occasion to make some history.

Giroud tied Thierry Henry’s record goal total for France’s men’s team, scoring his 50th and 51st goals as part of a 4-1 rout that pushed the defending World Cup champions atop Group D. The goals marked Giroud’s first at a World Cup since 2014, after France famously won the 2018 tournament without a single goal from a true striker.

Giroud wasn’t slated to start many games for France in Qatar, but a pre-tournament injury for Karim Benzema thrust the veteran back into the limelight. Fortunately for France fans, it looks like Giroud is ready for the occasion.

It wasn’t completely smooth sailing at first for Les Bleus. Australia took a 1-0 lead in the 9th minute after Craig Goodwin roofed Mathew Leckie’s low cross. The sequence leading to the goal came with more bad news for Didier Deschamps’ side, as Lucas Hernandez left the match with a serious-looking knee injury suffered while trying to track Leckie down.

For a few nervy minutes, it looked like Australia could repeat the day’s other upset, which saw Saudi Arabia knock off Argentina. France, after all, finished last in their group in 2002, just four years after winning their first-ever World Cup. Four of the last five defending champions have gone out in the group stage, including each of the last three.

France is apparently not interested in keeping that trend going. Adrien Rabiot got them level in the 27th minute, before Giroud scored his 50th international goal just five minutes later.

Few of them could be easier, after Rabiot forced a turnover that rolled to Kylian Mbappé. The PSG star backheeled the ball into Rabiot’s path, and with the Socceroos’ defense collapsing on the Juventus man, he shuttled the ball across to a wide-open Giroud to deposit past goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.

Australia had their chances to get level, but eventually their fatigue started to open up gaps, and France ruthlessly took advantage. Mbappé smashed an easy chance over the bar just before halftime, but he’d get his goal midway through the second half.

Looking truly imperious, Mbappé then went back to setting others up, sprinting past the Australian defense on the left flank. The resulting goal was classic Giroud: Mbappé’s curling cross was right where the AC Milan No. 9 needed it, and Giroud headed down past Ryan with authority.

Based on this display, it would be a shock if we’re not back here in a few days talking about how Giroud is now alone atop France’s all-time goalscoring chart. Best of luck to Denmark and Tunisia, who are the next teams faced with having to figure out how to slow this loaded French side down.

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Olivier Giroud pushed his Chelsea teammate away in order to celebrate with Christian Pulisic

My heart.

Ever since the Premier League returned to play from the coronavirus stoppage, Christian Pulisic, in particular, has been on a tear with Chelsea.

The 21-year-old USMNT star missed six months due to injury and the aforementioned stoppage, but he’s been arguably Chelsea’s best — at least, most dangerous — player over the past four weeks. And the respect he’s earned from his Chelsea teammates couldn’t have been more apparent than this hilarious exchange from Tuesday’s must-win match against last-place Norwich City.

Late in the first half stoppage time, Pulisic delivered a brilliant cross that was headed by Olivier Giroud for a goal. But keep an eye on Giroud after the goal.

The objectively handsome French striker went towards Pulisic to celebrate, but Jorginho attempted to be the first to greet Giroud. Instead, Giroud *playfully* shoved Jorginho away in order to first celebrate with Pulisic who assisted the goal.

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Yeah! Back off, Jorginho.

That goal ended up being the difference in the match as Chelsea looks to hold off Manchester United, Leicester City and Wolves in a crowded race for the final Champions League spots.

Oh, and Pulisic came close to scoring a goal of the year candidate.

That would’ve been special.

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