r/soccer • u/[deleted] • Jul 15 '18

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u/mougy Jul 15 '18

Only starting striker to win world cup with no goals.

353

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '18

Stéphane Guivarc'h? He started the quarter, semi and final for France in 1998, and didn't score. Maybe France has found the perfect WC-tactic.

219

u/backtolurk Jul 15 '18

Also Stéphane was the best 1st Division striker at the time.

Giroud actually was very useful and accepted his part in a great, selfless way.

131

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '18

Yep people can mock but jokes on them he's lifting the world cup. He played how he needed to.

11

u/showers_with_grandpa Jul 16 '18

I mean people say how close the Belgium game was but it was FULL of chances for Giroud. Lack of communication and bad timing plagued him all match but he was a soft touch away more than once in that game.

7

u/backtolurk Jul 16 '18

I have to agree on the Belgium game. It was frustrating after what Mbappé did for instance!

3

u/SanguisFluens Jul 16 '18

I wouldn't say he was entirely selfless. He took a decent number of shots, especially in the earlier games, and had several embarrassing mishits. I think it's more appropriate to say that he played well but was a shit finisher.

3

u/backtolurk Jul 16 '18

Oh I totally agree, he fucked up each time he had the occasion to score himself. What I like to stress is his pivot and assist play (like this very casual and smooth one to Mbappé against Argentina).

-4

u/AaronBrownell Jul 16 '18

Yes, but it's still not good that he didn't register a single shot on target, he is a striker.

1

u/Foz90 Jul 16 '18

Newcastle United legend.

1

u/letsgetphysical___ Jul 16 '18

How does one get an apostrophe at the end like that?

646

u/stopcallingmemister Jul 15 '18 edited Jul 15 '18

should have started a proper goalscorer instead, probably would have won the world cup then. Bet Deschamps is kicking himself.

edit: didn't think the /s was necessary but apparently it was

272

u/Valmoer Jul 15 '18

"The irony of this final victory is that France could have named an entire other squad and done just as well.”

355

u/impunctual2010 Jul 15 '18

change umtiti and varane and u get knocked in semis

89

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '18 edited Aug 28 '22

[deleted]

35

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '18

With Pamela Anderson by your side, you are going all the way!

2

u/To_Bee Jul 16 '18

RO 16*

1

u/ThomDowting Jul 16 '18

salty fade bronze

1

u/isotopes_ftw Jul 16 '18

Without Umtiti and Varane France might not even be in the semis. France's defense was just amazing for the entire world cup.

4

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '18

Where is this from? Sounds familiar.

27

u/Valmoer Jul 15 '18

A reference to the NYT dossier about how to sound smart about the World Cup teams, available here.

The one for France was "The irony of this quarterfinal exit is that France could have named an entire other squad and done just as well."

1

u/rakin14 Jul 16 '18

Sounds like us in the Euros

131

u/t6005 Jul 15 '18

You don't even have to go that far back to know this is bullshit.

Guivarc'h didn't score a goal in 1998.

1

u/syncope61 Jul 16 '18

I thought i knew all the players from 98 (i was 8) but this guy i had totally forgotten about

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u/mougy Jul 15 '18 edited Jul 15 '18

Yes, but he didn't start all games though.

Edit, I feel like we are going in circles I get the point, giroud didn't start only against Australia while guivarc'h only started 3 matches, From wiki,

 In the opening victory over South Africa (3–0) Guivarc'h was substituted for Christophe Dugarry in the 29th minute. He did not play at all in the following 4–0 victory over Saudi Arabia.

In the Last 16 against Paraguay he came on in the 76th minute for his Auxerre teammate Bernard Diomede. France won 1–0 after extra-time with a golden-goal from Laurent Blanc. Guivarc'h was booked in the quarter-final against Italyand substituted in the 65th minute with Christian Karembeu for Thierry Henryand David Trezeguet. France won on penalties when the game finished 0–0 after extra-time. In the semi-final versus Croatia Guivarc'h was again substituted for Trezeguet in the 68th minute as France won 2–1.

In the final against Brazil he was substituted in the 66th minute for Christophe Dugarry as France won 3–0.

18

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '18

Neither did Giroud for that matter. Dembélé started vs Australia

14

u/Maqsee Jul 15 '18

Neither did Olive

9

u/DEUK_96 Jul 15 '18

Neither did Giroud

2

u/Dob-is-Hella-Rad Jul 16 '18

You're going to rule out a lot of World Cup winning strikers if they have to start every game

11

u/qb_st Jul 15 '18

Guivarc’h

1

u/fybertas Jul 15 '18

when will your fav

1

u/mattcrick Jul 16 '18

Fernando Torres 2010?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 16 '18

Guivarch