Giroud Set To Retire From International Football After Euro 2024

France striker, Olivier Giroud, plans to retire from international football following next month’s European Championship to ensure he doesn’t prolong his career unnecessarily.

Earlier this month, Olivier Giroud departed AC Milan to join Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC. He has represented France in 131 matches and played a pivotal role in their 2018 World Cup victory.

At 37 years old, he has become the men’s national team’s highest goal scorer of all time with 57 goals, surpassing Thierry Henry during the 2022 World Cup.

“To be honest, this will be my last competition with Les Bleus. I’m going to miss it a lot,” Giroud told L’Equipe in an interview published on Thursday. But I think the French team will be over after the Euro. We need to make way for the youngsters. You also have to be careful not to have one season too many. You have to find the right balance…”

“I’ve always said that I was going to stop when my body asked me to. I think I’ve got two good years left. But as far as the French team is concerned, I think that’ll be the end of it.” He stated.

France, eliminated by Switzerland in the Euro 2020 last 16, last secured the trophy in 2000. They are set to kick off their Euros group stage against Austria on June 17, followed by matches against the Netherlands and Poland.

Asked if he had any objectives for the European Championship, Giroud said: “No, I don’t. It’s the desire to go as far as possible in the competition with this generation that drives me. If I win, then apart from the Premier League, which is very difficult to win, I could say I’ve won everything… After that, I’ve heard a lot about the 60-goal mark for the national team. We’re watching, but it’s not an obsession.”