Going through the different team of the tournament threads in the World Cup forums, most posters have put Giroud as the 9 in their best XI, quite an achievement for a 36yo player who has been doubted his entire career. 15 years ago, Grenoble, in Ligue 2 at the time, decided to get rid of him by loaning him in National with one year left on his contract because they thought he'd never be good enough to play in Ligue 2. That same summer they recruited Walid Regragui, who ended his playing career there, and he helped them promote to Ligue 1.