Deschamps Defends Giroud Selection In Latest France Squad

French national team manager Didier Deschamps has defended the selection of Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud in his latest squad.

At a press conference, Deschamps told reporters that Giroud is too important for him to be left out of the latest France squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Moldova and Iceland later this month.

Eyebrows were raised after Giroud made the new France list ahead of in-form players like Alexandre Lacazette and Wissam Ben Yedder.

Arsenal striker Lacazette has scored 14 goals in all competitions for the Gunners this season, while Ben Yedder has found the back of the net 26 times in the colours of Sevilla this term.

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Lacazette and Ben Yedder have been afforded more playing time at their respective clubs while Giroud has struggled for game time at Chelsea.

The former Arsenal player was the second choice behind Alvaro Morata during the first half of the season before playing second fiddle to Gonzalo Higuain following his loan transfer to Chelsea in January.

Olivier Giroud answered his France critics as he scored three goals to lead Chelsea to a 5-0 away win over Dynamo Kyiv.

The Chelsea striker was the first choice striker for the French team that won the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia last summer.