France coach Deschamps condemns Giroud boos

Neustift (Austria) (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps on Tuesday hit out at supporters who booed striker Olivier Giroud during the Euro 2016 hosts’ 3-2 friendly win against Cameroon in Nantes on Monday.

“It is certainly a minority and it is really unfair,” said Deschamps after the Arsenal striker, 29, was whistled by a section of the home crowd when the teams were announced but scored his country’s second goal during the match at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

“Olivier is there and, until proof to the contrary, he is scoring goals for us, which is what we ask of him.

“I am counting on him and the rest of the team are too. Solidarity with the other players is important and the first to stick up for him has been (Andre-Pierre) ‘Dede’ Gignac, who plays in the same position.

“Olivier is there and will stay there, and he will be one of the players who will have a role to play for us,” added Deschamps, who was speaking shortly after the French squad arrived in Austria for a four-day Alpine training camp.

Giroud played 65 minutes of Monday’s match and scored his 15th international goal as he won his 48th cap.

He is likely to have a leading role to play for his country at the European Championship in the absence of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who has been left out of the squad due to the Mathieu Valbuena sex-tape blackmail scandal.

France are next in action on Saturday when they face Scotland in Metz, their final friendly before they open Euro 2016 against Romania on Friday, June 10.