For the first time in many years, Olivier Giroud will experience this international break away from Clairefontaine. Last July, the French striker retired following France's elimination in the semifinals of Euro 2024 (1-2 against Spain) and moved to Los Angeles to enjoy a final experience at 37, away from the media pressure of the Old Continent.

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A Certain Potential

Taking advantage of his new status as a retired international, the French forward agreed to be a special columnist for L'Équipe. In the latest edition, he shares his thoughts on Bradley Barcola, who is vying for a starting spot against Italy on Friday and Belgium three days later. A young player who arrived last season and quickly made an impression. "He has always been discreet off the field. He is someone who speaks little… What surprised me about him, and about today’s young players, is how confident they are during their early training sessions. Especially him," writes Giroud. These initial training sessions allowed France's top scorer to gauge the Parisian's value. "From the start, he showed what he’s capable of. You can see the potential. He still has room to grow, but he’s already very skilled in dribbling and penetration," notes the Tricolor with 137 caps, also praising Bradley Barcola for being "a good guy." It’s not a technical quality but a human one, important in a team setting.

Pleased to have met him, Olivier Giroud will now watch from afar as the former Lyon player continues to develop, with Didier Deschamps potentially seeing him as a key figure in the new cycle he has started under the leadership of captain Kylian Mbappé.