OLIVIER GIROUD was booked during the World Cup final… long AFTER he had been substituted.
The veteran striker was named in Didier Deschamps’ starting XI for France’s dramatic clash with Argentina.
His match didn’t last long, however, as he was hooked by Deschamps after just 41 minutes following a disastrous opening period for Les Bleus.
Giroud, 36, responded furiously – hurling a water bottle at the ground in frustration.
And he remained fired up on the bench during the second-half.
France managed to come back from the brink late on, with a quick-fire Kylian Mbappe double bringing them back to 2-2 in the 81st minute.
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Deschamps’ men continued to push for a winner, and came desperately close to producing one.
Substitute Kingsley Coman conjured some brilliant trickery on the left wing in stoppage time before being fouled.
Rather than blowing up for a free-kick, however, the referee allowed France to play on – with Les Bleus subsequently getting a shot off at goal.
After the ball ended up in Emi Martinez’s grateful hands, France wanted play to be brought back for their free-kick – although the referee deemed that too long had elapsed to do so.
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Giroud responded angrily on the bench, and was reprimanded with a booking by the stern whistler.
Even as he was being yellow carded, Giroud continued to protest the decision.
His words fell on deaf ears, however, and Argentina clung on to reach extra time.
Messi and Mbappe would both add one further goal in extra time as the match finished 3-3 before the Argentines prevailed on penalties.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
