Olivier Giroud believes France have the potential to dominate international football for years to come after they beat Croatia to win the World Cup.
France clinched the trophy for the second time in their history with a thrilling 4-2 victory in the final over Zlatko Dalic’s side.
They were the joint second youngest squad, alongside England, to appear in this summer’s tournament and Giroud feels that bodes well for the European Championships in 2020 and the World Cup in Qatar two years later.
He told Standard Sport: “There are only five of us in the squad that are over 30-years-old. We have an amazing generation with young talented players, that’s why we can have a lot of hope of winning more in the future.
“One thing is sure if we keep this mentality with our quality, we will be very competitive and very hard to beat.”
France won an entertaining match despite not being at their best in the first half and had to rely on two big slices of fortune.
Mario Mandzukic put the French in front by heading into his own net and then referee Nestor Pitana awarded a penalty, subsequently converted by Antoine Griezmann, against Ivan Perisic for handball after a VAR review when the scores were tied at 1-1.
Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe effectively secured the trophy for Didier Deschamps’ men after the break, leaving Mandzukic’s late reply a mere consolation.
Giroud added: “This is an example of dreams come true. A good friend of mine told me when I was young, when we were kids, that I’d win the World Cup one day. He told me ‘let’s do it today’.
“I am very proud for all my friends and family, all the people that supported me and the team. We are very proud to win it for the French people.
“I called Wembley my garden because I am unbeaten there, but this is different. That was with my clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal.
“The World Cup it’s different. I don’t know what to say. This will stay with me for the rest of my life, it’s amazing.”
Giroud’s Chelsea and France team-mate N’Golo Kante agrees that France are going from strength to strength.
“I think we have continued our work,” he said. “Two years ago we played the final of Euro 2016 and against Croatia we used that experience to win this competition. We can get even better.”
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Manchester United midfielder Pogba dedicated the triumph to his late father Fassou Antoine, who passed away at the age of 79 in May last year.
He said: “My dad will be very proud of me, even though he is no longer here with me. I’m going to save this for him. We can only pray for him. May he rest in peace.
“It is just crazy to score in a World Cup Final. I can’t believe it but I have done it. We did it. I’m nothing without my team-mates. We are family, it is more than a group. The older players and the younger ones have got on from day one and that’s our strength.
“This makes up for losing the European Championships final in 2016. We wanted to win the European Championships but i don’t mind - if I had to choose, I would take the World Cup.”