Olivier Giroud remembered France team’s cruel banter

Olivier Giroud has revisited the hostility he experienced around France’s preparations for Euro 2016, when supporters’ preference for Karim Benzema turned him into the target of a painful joke. The episode remained vivid even though he said he ultimately treated the teasing as good-natured.

The incident took place in Nantes during France’s friendly against Ivory Coast. The Beaujoire crowd had turned against Giroud despite the Arsenal striker scoring a fine goal from a memorable Paul Pogba pass. The reaction was linked to pressure for Benzema to occupy his place, rather than to his performance on the pitch.

Giroud recalled the episode during a Canal+ dinner attended by former France internationals Christophe Jallet, Matthieu Debuchy and Robert Pirès. Jallet had been part of the national-team group at the time, and Giroud brought up the singing on the team bus. Supporters adapted Claude François’ “Le Mal aimé” to mock him, echoing the label used by L’Equipe during that period.

Giroud said he smiled through the moment while privately struggling to understand why he was being treated that way. He described himself as having been caught in an unfortunate situation, arriving at the wrong moment as the debate over Benzema’s place intensified. The recollection underlined the pressure surrounding his role in the France squad before the tournament.