France boss Deschamps focusing on the present as Giroud replaces Benzema

France head coach Didier Deschamps is focused on the present and not concerned by the future after calling up Olivier Giroud to replace Karim Benzema.

Giroud has not featured for Les Blues since their exit to Switzerland at Euro 2020 last June, but the 35-year-old has come back into contention after an injury to Benzema.

The Milan striker sits just five goals behind Thierry Henry in France’s all-time scoring charts after netting 46 times in 110 games.

Though Giroud was omitted from Deschamps’ recent squads, he now has a chance to impress in friendlies against Ivory Coast and South Africa.

Deschamps, speaking at Monday’s news conference, was keen to turn the attention away from Giroud as he insisted the former Arsenal and Chelsea forward does not have to prove himself.

“The most important thing for me is to be consistent and fair in my speech with the players, whether it’s Olivier or others,” he told reporters.

“Olivier is going to join us, and he doesn’t have to do more or less. He was part of this team that was successful, it was also without him, and he remains selectable, as I have always said. 

“But don’t ask me about the future. Of course, his presence is linked to Karim’s injury. But there is no particular attention around him, he is part of the group.”

Asked whether Benzema and Giroud could feature together down the line, Deschamps added: “It’s not a question of relationships, there’s competition, too, but it goes further than that. 

“History shows it is always a great difficulty for a player who has a status that he deserved to have, to no longer have this status. 

“It is very difficult to live with, not to say impossible. But it’s human and it’s not specific to Olivier. It’s more complex. I did not call him to tell him that he will have 30 per cent playing time and see how he reacts. 

“He can accept anything, it’s only ten days, but again, I don’t want to make a case apart, and there have been quite a few in this case. 

“A player who has status needs to have an important role. I am convinced of that.”

William Saliba – on loan @OM_English from @Arsenal – has been called up for the 1st time to replace Benjamin Pavard, who has had to withdraw. #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/J1V2p3GxTJ

— French Team (@FrenchTeam) March 21, 2022

Arsenal’s William Saliba, who is currently on loan at Marseille, has also been handed a late call-up after Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard withdrew.

“We have been following him for a while, I talk a lot with Sylvain Ripoll [France’s Under-21 coach], who has known since the weekend, just in case,” Deschamps said of Saliba. 

“The schedule meant that William was playing last night [Sunday], so I waited until after the match to make his call-up official, but what he does in the Under-23s and for his club, in a system that is not identical but similar, is interesting. 

“He is a good defender, fast, who has a good heading game, and exudes a lot of calmness in his play.”

Deschamps stressed that France’s upcoming friendlies are important, while he was glad to not be in the position of Portugal and Italy, who will battle for World Cup qualification in the play-offs.

“I know that many players have had very important matches before and will have very important ones after,” he added. “It will be full in Marseille, full in Lille, and it is our duty to be efficient. 

“You think that these two friendlies have little value, but I know very well that we have to win them, because otherwise, they will increase in importance. 

“And I prefer to be in my place than in the place of my Italian and Portuguese counterparts. I am happy to be among the 14 nations that have already qualified [for Qatar]!”