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Mbappe affected by Giroud’s complaints

June 14, 2021
1 MIN READ
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A brewing feud between France strikers Kylian Mbappé and Olivier Giroud has gone public, potentially threatening team unity ahead of the opening match against Germany at the European Championship.

It all started on Tuesday after France’s 3-0 victory over Bulgaria in a friendly when Giroud suggested he wasn’t getting the service he deserved — deemed by some a swipe at Mbappé.

Giroud scored two goals after coming on as a substitute for Karim Benzema, and several of his teammates ran towards him to celebrate his first one. But not Mbappé, who appeared to walk in the opposite direction.

“I was quiet because sometimes you make a run and the balls just don’t arrive,” Giroud said on L’Equipe TV. “I don’t always pretend to make the right calls, but I have tried hard to give solutions in the area.”

Mbappe said Sunday he had been “a little affected” by the growing unrest caused by Giroud’s comments.