OLIVIER GIROUD WENT some way to silencing the boo-boys by scoring twice as France rounded off their preparations for Euro 2016 with a classy 3-0 beating of Scotland in Metz tonight.
Arsenal striker Giroud was on the scoresheet in Monday’s unconvincing 3-2 win over Cameroon, but was still largely jeered by the Nantes crowd.
However, Giroud’s impressive international form continued against a poor Scotland team, opening the scoring with a clever flick in the eighth minute before following up Dimitri Payet’s saved shot to make it seven goals in as many France outings with 10 minutes to go until the break.
Laurent Koscielny’s first international goal made it 3-0 on 39 minutes and the only surprise was that no more arrived in the second half, although Paul Pogba did strike the post.
Giroud, whose club position is seemingly under threat with Arsenal heavily linked with Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, was part of a wider impressive showing from the hosts.
Payet was the driving force in a dangerous attack before being replaced at half-time, while Blaise Matuidi, N’Golo Kante and Pogba were superb in midfield.
Bigger tests lay in wait for France and Giroud, but head coach Didier Deschamps has plenty of cause for optimism ahead of the hosts’ Euro 2016 opener versus Romania in Paris on Friday.
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