04 June, 2017
Olivier Giroud scored his first global hat-trick as France defeated Paraguay 5-0 in Friday's friendly clash at Roazhon Park in Rennes.
He doubled the tally seven minutes later with a diving header after being perfectly set up by Dimitry Payet and he made it 3-0 in the 69th to become the first France player to score a hat-trick since David Trezeguet in 2000.
His third came in the second half as he got in front of his marker to get a touch onto Lucas Digne's cross and has now netted 26 times for the national team - one goal shy of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema but still far off overtaking Thierry Henry (51).
As well as Giroud, Tottenham's Moussa Sissoko and Antoine Griezmann also got their names on the score sheet for their country.
In Group A the Euro 2016 finalists France head Group A by three points from Sweden.
The treble continued Giroud's fine form in a France shirt, but it would be fair to say that the 30-year-old is yet to fully win over the Arsenal supporters. "So I'm happy for him".
Deschamps too was more than satisfied with his side's showing. "Now I know that we have an altogether different game coming up against Sweden". "We played with a lot of intensity and speed, even though it's the end of the season".
"We've seen some good things".
Next up for France is a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Sweden in Stockholm, a match Griezmann rapidly switched focus to.
After Sweden, France are scheduled to face England in a friendly in Paris on June 13. Getting a good or very good result there will put us in an even better position to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Giroud headed a Dembele cross over after five minutes, but the Arsenal man had less than 60 seconds to wait before making the most of his next opportunity.
The visitors rarely threatened - experienced central defender Jonny Evans holding the line superbly - with their only strike of note from substitute Kosta Barbarouses which came back off the woodwork.
