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Olivier Giroud says he has the strength of character to “bounce back” after being booed by his own fans during France’s friendly game against Serbia.
The Arsenal striker missed a number of good chances in France’s 2-1 victory in Bordeaux and was booed at half-time by Les Bleus fans, as well as when he was substituted for Karim Benzema after 62 minutes.
Giroud has only scored once this season for his club, an acrobatic effort against Crystal Palace, but insists he will quickly get over the abuse he suffered at the hands of France’s demanding supporters.
"As a striker, what you got used to on a daily basis, it is to be applauded when you score goals,” said Giroud. “When the opposite happens, it's difficult. Everybody gets criticised at one point.
"That's not the first and surely not the last time it happens. I have the mental strength to bounce back. Now I am going to focus on working. I am everything but worried about that. I will bounce back.
"Tonight I wasn't very efficient. It is like it is. I cannot focus too much on it. I have to think about the victory of the team and the good form we are currently experiencing.
"I am going first, to enjoy our victory and then obviously I will have to correct a few things."
France manager Didier Deschamps defended Giroud’s performance and said Benzema, who was linked with a move to Arsenal during the summer, could have had the same kind of wasteful performance.
“He also helped during the game,” Deschamps said of Giroud’s contribution. “He got unlucky on a few chances because the goalkeeper made a great save. He got three clear opportunities.
“Obviously he knows about it. He's the first to be sad about his lack of efficiency. But it happens sometimes. If it's not Olivier, it might be Karim [Benzema]. The performance of the entire team remains of a great level.”
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