Arsenal star Giroud: We silenced our critics

Wednesday, October 17, 2012
8:02 AM

Olivier Giroud was delighted to prove France’s credentials as his last gasp equaliser gave Didier Deschamps’ side a 1-1 draw World Cup qualifying draw with Spain in Madrid.

The Arsenal striker came off the bench in the 88th minute and headed home minutes later from a Franck Ribery cross.

World champions Spain - who had taken a first half lead through Sergio Ramos - brought Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla and Chelsea’s Fernando Torres off the bench.

The France side, meanwhile, featured Giroud’s Arsenal team-mate Laurent Koscielny and Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

“We silenced certain critics, but it’s just one match,” Giroud told L’Equipe.

“We can’t get carried away, even if it was a real pleasure to be able to respond on the pitch.”

On his goal, he said: “It all happened so fast I didn’t even know if I had touched the ball before that header.

“It was a good cross from Franck [Ribery] and I didn’t really have to think about it.

“I hope success will come back little by little [for France].”