Giroud nets treble as France rout Paraguay

Olivier Giroud's hat trick inspired France to a 5-0 friendly victory over Paraguay on Friday, boosting Les Bleus' confidence ahead of a potentially decisive World Cup qualifier against Sweden next week.

Arsenal striker Giroud, playing in his favoured central forward position, struck twice before the interval and once in the second half to lead France to an emphatic victory in Rennes.

Moussa Sissoko and Antoine Griezmann added goals in the last 15 minutes.

France are top of World Cup qualifying Group A and three points ahead of Sweden before they travel to Stockholm next Friday. Giroud volleyed home from Ousmane Dembele's volley in the sixth minute.

He doubled the tally seven minutes later with a diving header after being perfectly set up by Dimitry Payet and he made it 3-0 in the 69th to become the first France player to score a hat trick since David Trezeguet in 2000.

Giroud was given a rousing ovation by the Brittany crowd in Rennes when he came off in the 73rd minute, and his replacement Alexandre Lacazette set up Sissoko with a first-time cross from the right after breaking the offside trap in the 76th.

Just a minute later, Griezmann thumped home following a mix-up in defense for his 16th international goal.

Setting a French record for goalkeepers with his 88th cap, Hugo Lloris had little to do.

"Everything came together for us," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "We played with a lot of intensity and speed, even though it's the end of the season."

After facing Sweden in Stockholm, the French have a friendly against England at Stade de France four days later.

It was the perfect warm-up for next week's qualifier against Sweden, on a night where Hugo Lloris won his 88th cap, breaking the French record for a goalkeeper. One year ago, Giroud was jeered by his own home fans prior to the European Championship. But he is now firmly first choice and took his internationally tally to 26 goals in 62 games.

Griezmann is confident Giroud is the right man to spearhead France's attack. "It will do him good. When he's in form like that, it's perfect for us. We need him at this level to go further. We've seen some good things. This is our No.9. The coach has great confidence in him.

We try to give him the balls so that he can score. We're going to try to do everything we can to make sure he keeps scoring.

Source: Khaleej Times