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France’s all-time top goalscorer Olivier Giroud is the most complete striker at the World Cup, according to Les Bleus legend David Trezeguet.
Giroud surpassed Thierry Henry’s tally of 51 France goals as Didier Deschamps’ men beat Poland in the last 16 in Qatar, teeing up Saturday’s quarter-final clash with England.
The 36-year-old Milan striker has scored three goals at the tournament. Only one player has ever scored more goals at a single World Cup when aged 36 or older – Roger Milla in 1990 (four).
Speaking to RMC Sport ahead of France’s meeting with the Three Lions, Trezeguet – who sits sixth in his country’s scoring charts with 34 goals – said there was a lack of genuine strikers on display in Qatar.
“Olivier Giroud is the centre-forward as in my time. There really aren’t any more,” he said.
“Germany have suffered a lot without a centre-forward, the Netherlands and others have a clear idea without a centre-forward.
“It is difficult to explain. We saw Spain, who lacked efficiency, either there was [Alvaro] Morata or there was nothing.
“There is beauty, the technical side but you have to finish the job and Giroud seems to me to be the most complete in this competition.”
Meanwhile, Trezeguet is confident France can become the first nation to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, hailing Deschamps’ management of the side.
“The French team has a clear idea, it is going very well with Giroud doing an exceptional job up front, [Adrien] Rabiot at a very high level, [Theo] Hernandez has been a huge solution,” he said.
“There are details, but I think it’s the most complete team. Deschamps has always been clear, the team plays on his qualities.”
However, the 1998 World Cup winner knows England will offer a stern challenge in the last eight, as he lauded their development under Gareth Southgate.
“Gareth Southgate, I had the chance to know him at FIFA level. He is not a classic English coach, he is much more disciplined on the tactical side,” he said.
“Over time this team has progressed. This team has everything to compete with the France team.”
