Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Besides being so confident, Killian is also selfish – but that’s not a criticism. The striker is always the most selfish player in the team – he has to be.
He showed with his first World Cup goal against Peru in Yekaterinburg in our second group game at Russia 2018.
I didn’t start our first game against Australia, because I got hurt a week ago in a friendly against the USA and I needed nine stitches in my forehead. It was a bad cut and I almost missed the entire tournament.
Also, Didier Deschamps wanted to try Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann and Mbappe up front but it didn’t really work. He subscribed something and I came in with a Paul Pogba goal to give us the winner.
That meant Deschamps picked me against Peru and I was desperate to score this time. Paul put me in and while my shot was blocked, it looped over the keeper and in… but then Kylian was on the line to turn it on.
I was later asked if I resented him for ‘stealing’ my goal but my response was the same then – absolutely not. I would have done exactly the same – every striker would.
Eight years later, after scoring twice against Senegal on Tuesday, Kylian has 14 World Cup goals, just two behind Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi for the most by any player in the tournament’s history.
At 27, he’s got at least one more World Cup in him, so he’s about to beat that record too – or at least he will if Messi ever stops playing!
I hope Kylian breaks all the records in front of him, and he has time to do it – his next most caps for France (he has 99, and Hugo Lloris has 145) because he is a special player, and he deserves it.
When I remember playing with him, I smile. We’ve shared some great moments for France since 2017 when he first came into the national team.
We had a great understanding and our games complemented each other – his pace is devastating one-on-one but for a one-two game you always need support up front. I was the target man and we knew each other’s qualities.
Now in this France team you can see his connection with Michael Ollis, especially for our first goal against Senegal. There’s more to come from him in the next few weeks, and I can’t wait to see it.
Olivier Giroud was speaking to BBC Sports’ Chris Bevan
