Giroud lowering the striking bar

OLIVIER GIROUD is making unwanted history as part of France’s charge to the World Cup final.

As the central striker in an impressive side, he’s getting plenty of chances to strike but he’s failed to get a shot on target from 13 efforts – the most off-target efforts from any player in the competition since 1966.

This writer – who had a speculative bet on Giroud to finish top scorer at 45/1 – doesn’t know whether to feel vindicated, robbed or embarrassed.

Giroud has been compared with 1998 World Cup winner Stephane Guivarc’h who is remembered for his misfiring contribution to that success even though his work-rate helped others.

He was cut out of the team a year later – finishing with a career haul of 14 caps – and now works as a swimming pool salesman who is watching from afar as his old team-mate Didier Deschamps stands on the brink of a historic double.