Ex-Premier League star and World Cup winner reveals his plan to RETIRE from international football after Euro 2024 next summer – but insists he is still ‘hungry for titles’ at 37
- The striker won the World Cup with France in 2018 and starred in Qatar last year
- He admits he will ‘probably’ call time on his career after Euro 2024 in Germany
- Manchester United have snakes in their dressing room – It’s All Kicking Off
France forward Olivier Giroud has revealed he is ‘probably’ going to retire from international football next year.
The AC Milan star, who won the World Cup in 2018 and featured throughout France’s journey to the final in Qatar last year, is currently the highest goal scorer in French history, having netted 56 goals for his country.
Giroud, 37, has also enjoyed domestic silverware late on in his career, having won the Serie A title with Milan in 2022 after his first season at the San Siro.
The striker has claimed that next summer’s European Championships in Germany could be his last major tournament with France.
Giroud has never won the Euros despite coming agonisingly close in 2016, when France lost the final 1-0 against Portugal after extra time.
Olivier Giroud has revealed he is ‘probably’ going to retire from international football next year
The 37-year-old striker won the World Cup with France in 2018 and reached the final last year
Giroud has been an important player for AC Milan in recent years, winning the title in 2022
Speaking the French outlet TeleFoot, Giroud admitted next summer’s tournament will ‘probably’ be his last in international football.
‘I’m not planning beyond the short-term,’ the former Arsenal and Chelsea star said.
‘The most important thing is to be fit and competitive, these Euros are an objective. We nearly got it in 2016, and it is a trophy that I would love to win with France.
‘It will maybe, probably, be my last competition, but I can’t tell you what will happen after.’
The Frenchman has also made a similar claim to RMC Sport, insisting he will ‘bow out’ of international duty should France prevail at Euro 2024 in Germany.
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France and Giroud agonisingly suffered defeat by Portugal in the Euro 2016 final, losing 1-0
The former Premier League forward revealed he almost retired after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but has kept on playing internationally because he is still ‘hungry for titles’ with France
‘I’m just missing these Euros. If we win it, I’ll bow out,’ he told the outlet. ‘It will probably be the case if we don’t get to the end as well. I’m making the most of every minute.
‘I said to some guys that if we won the 2022 World Cup, I’d retire. But I am hungry for titles with my country.’
Giroud’s France know their Euro 2024 group consists of both the Netherlands and Austria, with one of Poland, Wales, Finland or Estonia joining them via the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Milan sit third in the Italian top flight ahead of next weekend, six points behind bitter rivals and Serie A leaders Inter.
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