Didier Deschamps hints at January Chelsea exit for Giroud

France coach Didier Deschamps praised Olivier Giroud for delivering under pressure but admits a lack of game time with Chelsea is damaging his international chances.

The 33-year-old came off the bench in France’s Euro 2000 qualifier against Turkey on Monday night and scored within four minutes. It was his third goal in four matches for France, but his header was cancelled out late on by Kaan Ayhan in a 1-1 draw.

Giroud had scored an important winner against Iceland on Friday but Deschamps did not feel he could manage two starts in four days, having managed just 187 minutes for his club this season.

“You know, Olivier suffers his situation. Before January, nothing will move,” Deschamps told a press conference.

“After, it will be up to him to see. I hope he will have more playing time.

He knows he is under pressure, but he always responds “But we cannot take away his goals, his good performances. He scores, he makes others play well.

“He knows he is under pressure, but he always responds.”

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France laboured at home to Turkey, who remain Group H leaders ahead of their opponents on 19 points because of a superior head-to-head record after a 2-0 win in Konya in June.