‘Winning the World Cup is important in life’: Antoine Griezmann defends France strike partner Olivier Giroud after Karim Benzema’s ‘go-kart’ jibe
- Benzema had used the unflattering analogy to compare himself to Giroud
- He described Chelsea striker as a ‘go-kart’ while suggesting he was an ‘F1 car’
- Giroud replaced Benzema in the France attack after he was exiled back in 2015
- Their international colleague Griezmann has come to the defence of Giroud
- Griezmann subtly pointed out that Giroud was a World Cup winner with France
Antoine Griezmann has sprung to the defence of Olivier Giroud after Karim Benzema’s ‘go-kart’ jibe at his France team-mate.
Benzema used an unflattering motor racing analogy to describe the perceived difference in quality between himself and Chelsea striker Giroud, who replaced him in the France team.
‘You don’t confuse Formula One with go karting. And I’m being kind. Next… and I know I’m F1,’ said the Real Madrid man in an Instagram Live video this week.
Karim Benzema derided Olivier Giroud in an Instagram live video with actor Tomas N’Gijol, calling him a ‘go-kart’ as opposed to him being a ‘Formula One car’
Chelsea striker Giroud replaced Benzema in the France team after he was exiled in 2015
Griezmann subtly pointed out to Benzema that Giroud was, after all, a World Cup winner
And when asked to explain his comments on Tuesday, Benzema happily doubled down on his criticism.
‘About Giroud, I simply told the truth,’ Benzema said.
‘But we didn’t remember what I said about him, especially about what he brings to the French national team. We just remembered the moment when I said I was F1 and he was karting.
‘That’s what I think, that’s the truth, and that’s how it is.’
But Barcelona forward Griezmann, who has played alongside both players for the French national team, backed Giroud, subtly pointing out that he was a World Cup winner.
Chelsea forward Giroud started in every match as France won the 2018 World Cup in Russia
‘I can’t answer all that, that could get me into trouble,’ Griezmann said on Twitch.
‘I love Olivier Giroud, he’s a good player and he helped us win the World Cup. And that’s important in life.’
It came after Giroud himself issued a brilliant riposte to Benzema’s dig on Wednesday.
He told Befoot: ‘People say you cannot compare a Formula One car with a go-kart and the only thing I can say on the matter is that I’m a world champion, so that isn’t bad for a go kart.’
Real Madrid striker Bemzema doubled down on his ‘go-kart’ comments in another interview
While both Giroud and Griezmann were part of the France squad that lifted the World Cup in Russia two years ago, Benzema has been exiled from the team since 2015 after being accused of blackmailing former team-mate Mathieu Valbuena in a sex tape scandal.
Giroud didn’t score during the World Cup tournament despite starting all seven of France’s games, but his all round contribution was important for Didier Deschamps’ team.
In all, the Chelsea man has scored 39 goals in 97 appearances for Les Blues, while Benzema had 27 in 81 games before being exiled.
