We don’t want to waste this opportunity: Giroud

Football News: The French striker believes this France team’s focus and their mentality is very much different to that French team who lost the final against Portugal in Euro 2016.

The French striker is very much optimistic to lift the prestigious trophy against Croatia.

The31-year-old Chelsea man made his position in the team from the second group game against Peru replacing the Barcelona youngster Dembele.

This time the French are the favourites to claim the world cup in Russia, and Giroud believes that this time they will not let happend another opportunity to pass them by to winning the silverware.

He voiced: “It’s different. After the semi-final when we won against Germany we were a bit euphoric, whereas against Belgium it was different,”

“It’s not the same feeling – we know we still have one game to win. There’s that real focus and concentration to finish the job – that’s why it’s different. We’ve come a long way to get here and we don’t want to waste this opportunity now.

“You can’t win a World Cup on just talent. Talent alone is not sufficient. You need efficiency. The mental strength is 70 per cent of the job. If you’re ready to work for your team-mates and each other with dedication and commitment then anything can happen.”

The French front man is yet to score any goal for his team in the world cup, but he knows that his role is part of the bigger picture in creating team balance and fluency.

He added: “Against Belgium I missed efficiency, luck and something to score but hopefully I can have it for the final,”

“In 1998 [Stephane] Guivarc’h played a good World Cup but didn’t score and I think I’m doing a good World Cup, I’ve assisted three times for goals, I’m committed and the work rate and the work every single player puts in is very important.

“I feel like I give everything for the team and if one goal has to come then hopefully it will come and it will come on Sunday, but if we are a world champions and I don’t score, I’m okay with that."