FIFA World Cup 2018 final: French striker Olivier Giroud records rare unwanted stats in Russia
France vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2018 final: France striker Olivier Giroud has registered a rare and a bizarre record in Russia as France head to final against Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium. He has failed to score a single goal amid zero shots on target in 13 attempts.
France striker Olivier Giroud has recorded a rare and a rather bizarre statistic in France's journey to the FIFA World Cup 2018 final. He has failed to score a single goal in Russia amid zero shots on target in 13 attempts. However, coach Didier Deschamps reckons him to be a vital cog in Sunday's grand finale against Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
The 31-year-old striker has played six matches in Russia playing 465 minutes in total and has had 13 attempts at goal. However, he failed to register a single shot at goal.
Off those 13 shots, 9 went off target and four were blocked. No other player since 1966 has had more attempts (13) in a tournament without striking one on target.
In the match against Belgium in the semifinal, it was Deschamps who asked Giroud to drop deep in the midfield in a bid to nullify Belgium's attack.
Heading into the final, Deschamps thinks that Giroud may not have scored for Les Blues 'yet', but he will still play an important part in France's attack against Croatia.
"It's true Olivier hasn't scored yet. I repeat yet," said Deschamps last week. "He is important for our style, we need his supporting play. It's good if he scores but Olivier is always very generous and doesn't complain about working hard. He might not have the flamboyant style but the team needs him even if he doesn't score."
“He contributes enormously so that Mbappe can switch from one side to another, or to create space for Griezmann,” French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet told AFP. “When a centre-forward doesn’t score there are always questions but in terms of what he does he is beyond criticism.”
Giroud has in fact been compared to Stephane Guivarc’h who failed to score a single goal in France's glorious 1998 story to maiden World Cup triumph.
“Guivarc’h didn’t score in the ‘98 World Cup, (Christophe) Dugarry only scored once. If we win and I don’t score I won’t care a bit, I’ll be a world champion and I will be extremely proud,” he said.