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'My career with Les Bleus might have been better playing with Benzema': Olivier Giroud plays down rivalry with fellow French striker despite Real Madrid star's 'go-kart' jibe

Olivier Giroud has played down his rivalry with Karim Benzema and suggested that his France career may have been better if he had frequently played with the Real Madrid forward.

Benzema hasn't played for France for over five years, while Giroud has featured prominently for Les Bleus, featuring in their World Cup success in 2018.

Giroud's brace in the recent win against Ukraine means he is now France's second-highest scorer of all time with 42 goals in 100 games.

Olivier Giroud says his France career may have been better alongside Karim Benzema
Benzema hasn't played for France since 2015 while Giroud has featured heavily for Les Bleus

'I've always been blamed a little for the absence of Karim in the France team,' Giroud told TF1.