Striker Olivier Giroud is relishing the physical challenge which awaits should he be chosen to lead the line in France’s World Cup opener against Honduras tonight.
The Group E minnows showed in their warm-up game against England that they are unlikely to shirk a tackle and more of the same is likely to be in store for Les Bleus in Porto Alegre.
That will not worry burly Arsenal frontman Giroud, who said: “I like the contact and the physical battle. It is an asset for me against English defences.”
Club and country colleague Laurent Koscielny added: “Giroud is full of confidence. Today, as a focal point, we are beginning to see him at his best.
“It’s good for him and it’s good for the team. He can be an important element.”
The absence of talisman Franck Ribery, who did not travel to Brazil due to a back injury, has created a selection dilemma for coach Didier Deschamps.
Montpellier’s Remy Cabella replaced the Bayern Munich star in the squad but Real Sociedad’s Antoine Griezmann is another option.
France’s build-up suggested Deschamps may instead pair Giroud and Loic Remy in a front two but, asked if the former’s physicality will be an asset, the coach was non-committal.
“It could be,” he said. “He is used to facing that in the Premier League. But if we look at the recent past, he had difficulty against theUkrainian defence (in the World Cup qualifying play-off), who also played very solidly.”
Honduras are unlikely to tone down their uncompromising approach, if forward Jerry Bengtsson’s pre-match comments are any indication.
The Central American side were unimpressed by a French TV feature, entitled “Les miserables du Honduras”, which painted a grim picture of the country’s football.
Coach Luis Fernando Suarez has used the footage to motivate his side and Bengtsson said: “There will be a bit of rancour for us in the match against France.
“We will give our all to show that we are not ‘miserable’. They will see what we can do.”
LIKELY LINE-UPS
France (4-3-1-2)
Lloris; Sagna, Koscielny, Sakho, evra; Pogba, Matuidi, Cabaye; Valbuena; Giroud, Benzema.
Honduras (4-4-2)
Valladares; Beckeles, Benardez, Figueroa, Izaguirre; Chavez, Palacios, Garrido, Espinoza; Bengtsson, Costly.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
France – Olivier Giroud
There is plenty of pressure on the Arsenal striker to perform and prove he deserves a starting berth alongside first choice forward Karim Benzema. France are expected to win comfortably and Giroud will likely be out to make a major statement.
Honduras – Maynor Figueroa
The Hull City defender will play centre-back for Honduras and has a huge task on his hands trying to stop Benzema and Giroud. He will certainly know the Arsenal forward well having spent much of his career in the Premier League but it will be an extremely tough test.
PREDICTION
The French have too much quality and too much firepower, expect them to make a flying start to Group e with a 3-0 win.
