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SAINT-DENIS: On a night where youth and experience aligned, forward Olivier Giroud scored twice in his 100th game for France and teenager Eduardo Camavinga celebrated his first start by scoring an acrobatic goal in a 7th win -1 over Ukraine in a friendly match.
Giroud’s double led the Chelsea forward to 42 international goals, one more than Michel Platini on France’s all-time goalscorer list, which Thierry Henry leads with 51.
“Obviously it is a huge pride, a great honor,” Giroud said.
“It was a friendly match, but also my 100th international match, a match full of emotions. I have surpassed a French football legend, now I don’t want to set limits.”
Giroud, 34, gave the world champions a 2-0 lead in the 24th minute after Camavinga’s first goal, with a superb shot from outside the box into the upper corner.
Wearing the captain’s armband, he doubled his tally after the half-hour mark with a diving header from a rebound.
Ukraine, affected by positive COVID-19 tests and injuries, fielded an exhausted team and trailed 4-0 at halftime after Vitaliy Mykolenko scored an own goal while trying to clear the ball five minutes before half-time.
Ukraine enjoyed a hot streak after the break despite French coach Didier Deschamps bringing in Kylian Mbappé, and substitute Viktor Tsygankov retiring one for the visitors.
Corentin Tolisso, Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann completed the victory for France.
With his goal, the highly rated Camavinga became the second youngest player to score for France, at 17 years, 11 months.
Maurice Gastiger was just six months younger when he scored against Switzerland on March 8, 1914.
Widely regarded as France’s next big star, the Rennes midfielder made his international last month against Croatia, making the most of Paul Pogba’s retirement after the Manchester United player tested positive for COVID-19.
Playing his second game for the national team, Camavinga showed his style and great technique to put the locals ahead in the ninth minute.
After Ukraine goalkeeper Heorhii Bushchan parried a close-range header from Giroud, Camavinga held on to the rebound and sent the ball into the opposite corner with a clever shot from above, his back to the net.
Only 1,000 fans were allowed into the Stade de France due to coronavirus restrictions.
France will face Portugal on Sunday in the Nations League before traveling to Croatia on October 14.
Ukraine hosts Germany in Kiev on Saturday and Spain three days later.
