Olivier Giroud is gunning for goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
With 10 goals in his past 11 games for France, Giroud is in the best form of his career heading into the European Championship semifinal against Germany on Thursday.
“Of course he’s a key player for them, but I’ve scored a few against him,” Giroud said on Monday. “In any case, he’s not an insurmountable wall.”
When France beat Germany 2-0 in November, Giroud scored against Neuer — who has conceded only one goal at Euro 2016.
Neuer was also in goal when Giroud scored home and away for Arsenal against Bayern Munich in the Champions league last season, and he also netted against him when the Gunners won 2-0 away to Bayern during the 2012-13 campaign.
The following season, Giroud scored against Borussia Dortmund.
“I generally do well against German clubs as well,” said Giroud, who has three goals at Euro 2016.
His muscular style of play, allied to good technique and heading ability, seems to work against German players. The first of his 20 goals for France was against Germany in 2012 and his first goal in the Champions league for Arsenal was against Schalke 04 later that year.
No wonder, given his track record and his current form, he is confident about the week ahead.
“My objective is to help us win the Euro,” he said. “If I can help us do that by scoring one or two more goals then that’s great.”
Five weeks ago, fans jeered Giroud off the pitch when he was substituted against Cameroon, even though he scored a volley in a 3-2 win.
By contrast, he was given a huge ovation on Sunday night after scoring twice in a 5-2 win against Iceland in the quarterfinals.
“It’s nice to be cheered. But it’s not a case of revenge,” the 29-year-old Giroud said. “I give everything for the team. That’s the main thing.”
Despite a healthy return of 82 goals in 182 games for Arsenal, he has yet to win over a section of the fans. Whatever he does, he is always being compared: either to former Arsenal stars Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie, or to France’s Karim Benzema.