France’s all-time top scorer, Olivier Giroud said he would retire from international duty after the Euro 2024 championship in Germany.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea forward was named in Coach Didier Deschamps’ provisional squad for the Euros.
“To be honest, this will be my last competition with Les Bleus. Obviously, I’m going to miss it a lot,” Giroud told L’Equipe in an interview published on Thursday.
“But I think the French team will be over after the Euro.
We need to make way for the youngsters. You also have to be careful not to have one season too many. You have to find the right balance.
“I’ve always said that I was going to stop when my body asked me to. I think I’ve got two good years left. But as far as the French team is concerned, I think that’ll be the end of it,” the 37-year-old said.
France, who were knocked out by Switzerland in the last 16 of Euro 2020, last lifted the trophy in 2000. They will face Austria in their Euros group stage opening game on June 17, before taking on the Netherlands and Poland.
Asked if he had any objectives for the European Championship, Giroud said, “No, I don’t. It’s the desire to go as far as possible in the competition with this generation that drives me.
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“If I win, apart from the Premier League, which is very difficult to win, I could say I’ve won everything… After that, I’ve heard a lot about the 60-goal mark for the national team. We’re watching, but it’s not an obsession.”
Giroud, who leads the French football team with 57 goals in 131 appearances, will be out of contract at the San Siro next month.
He has, however, agreed to join American Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC after the Euros.
The French striker failed to score despite playing 465 minutes across six matches as France won the 2018 World Cup in Russia.