Antoine Griezmann praises Olivier Giroud ahead of France's quarter-final with Iceland
Sunday 3 July 2016 14:02, UK
Antoine Griezmann has praised Olivier Giroud for his selflessness as a striker and has backed France to win Euro 2016.
France came through a nervy last-16 encounter with Ireland with a 2-1 victory and will face England's conquerors, Iceland, on Sunday in the last of the quarter-finals.
Although making hard work of the Republic of Ireland in the last round, France are expected to come through the tie and star man Griezmann has highlighted the importance of Arsenal striker Giroud.
"He [Giroud] is a target man who likes to flick the ball on and lay it off for others," Griezmann told UEFA.com.
"We saw the way he put me in on goal with his header against Ireland.
"He put me in the best possible position and I tried to finish it as well as I could."
World champions Germany await the winner in the semi-final after finally ending their Italy hoodoo, but Griezmann is convinced France have the players to reach the final and even win the tournament.
However, the Atletico Madrid forward says France must play like they did in the second half against Ireland and maintain the desire they demonstrated to come back from a goal down and claim victory.
"We have a great team with lots of quality players and the coach knows it," said Griezmann. "He always tries to play the best team.
"For the first half we were poor and in the second it was a very different French team. It was the French team that can go all way.
"So if we keep acquitting ourselves that way, with that desire, I am sure we can go all the way [in the tournament]."
