Saturday 26 March 2016 18:45, UK
Olivier Giroud admits that the Karim Benzema sex tape scandal is something "that can pollute the spirit" of the France squad.
Real Madrid forward Benzema was indefinitely suspended from the France team in December after he was placed under investigation in relation to an alleged attempt to blackmail Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.
Benzema has been accused of complicity in the attempt and remains excluded from international duty until a decision over his place in the national team is made on April 15. The striker has denied any wrongdoing.
"It is something that can pollute our spirit. I try not to think about it as it prevents us from concentrating on matters on the pitch. It is the pitch which is the most important," said Giroud.
Giroud, who scored in Friday's 3-2 friendly win over the Netherlands in Amsterdam, shrugged off the implications of possibly seeing both Benzema and Valbuena in the Euro 2016 squad.
"The question does not come up. The objective is to have strikers who complement each other the best," said Giroud.
"I don't ask myself the question of Karim or 'Valbu'. The most important thing today is the team."
France coach Didier Deschamps will unveil his 23-man squad for the competition on May 12.
