Olivier Giroud Reveals Stunning All-Time Teammates XI on Sky Sports - And There Are Major Surprises!
Olivier Giroud stunned fans on Sky Sports by revealing his ultimate all-time teammates XI, featuring stars like Kylian Mbappé, Eden Hazard, N'Golo Kanté, and Mesut Özil – with some surprising snubs from his Arsenal and France days.
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Olivier Giroud shares his dream XI of former teammates, including Mbappé, Hazard, Kanté, and Özil, during his Sky Sports appearance.
French football legend Olivier Giroud delighted fans during his appearance on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football by unveiling his ultimate XI composed entirely of teammates he's played alongside throughout his illustrious career.
The 39-year-old, currently starring for Lille after stints at Arsenal, Chelsea, AC Milan, LAFC, and the France national team, shared his selections while analyzing recent Premier League action. Giroud's dream team is packed with world-class talent but notably features some eye-catching snubs and unexpected choices.
Giroud's All-Time Teammates XI (4-3-3 Formation)
Goalkeeper:
- Mike Maignan (AC Milan/France) – The modern shot-stopper edged out France captain Hugo Lloris for the spot.
Defenders:
- Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea)
- Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
- Raphaël Varane (France)
- Full-backs not explicitly detailed, but heavy France and Chelsea influence.
Midfielders:
- N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea) – Praised for his relentless energy.
- Mesut Özil (Arsenal) – Giroud called him "crazy" in the best way, highlighting his visionary passing.
- Franck Ribéry (France)
Attackers:
- Eden Hazard (Chelsea) – Giroud's pick for the left wing, ahead of many Arsenal options.
- Antoine Griezmann (France)
- Kylian Mbappé (France) – Paired up top for devastating pace and finishing.
Notable Snubs and Reactions
Giroud's selections raised eyebrows with several high-profile omissions:
- No place for Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid teammate in national setup) or recent Ballon d'Or winners he's shared a pitch with.
- Arsenal fans noted limited Gunners representation – only Özil made the cut, despite Giroud's successful years alongside players like Alexis Sánchez or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
- Chelsea dominates with four players (Hazard, Kanté, Silva, Rüdiger), reflecting the trophies won during his time at Stamford Bridge.
"This is a special team," Giroud reflected, emphasizing the blend of technical brilliance, work rate, and winning mentality from his World Cup-winning France side and club triumphs.
The reveal sparked lively debate on social media, with fans hailing it as "unbeatable on paper" while others questioned the exclusions. Giroud also touched on current topics like Arsenal's striking options and Chelsea's title hopes during the broadcast.
