Published 7 minutes ago It feels a little strange to be watching this World Cup from a TV studio, and not being involved on the pitch.
Until this summer, I had been at every major finals with France since 2012 - four Euro Championships and three World Cups. Now, I am enjoying this tournament in a different role, as a BBC Sport pundit.
France is still my team, of course. I am the number one fan of the French national side, and I wish them all the best, but 2024 was the right time for me to retire from international football.
You need to know when to stop and, for me, that was the time. I was 37, the manager did not play me so much at those Euros and, also, I could see the numbers and the quality of the strikers coming through.
I would be lying if I say I don't miss playing for France, and I have felt nostalgic this week, thinking about those past tournaments, but it is not like I have any regrets not being with them this time.
I went to see them play against Northern Ireland on Monday in Lille, which is my club's stadium, and I was so proud of the team - to see them, and the fans.
The expectations of the supporters is something you can't really see when you are on the pitch and focused on the game, but it is different now I am one of them.
I want the same thing too - I just wish for them to bring the third star, for a third World Cup win, back home. That's the dream for everyone.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Giroud helped France win the 2018 World Cup and scored a record 57 goals in 137 appearances for Les Bleus between 2011 and 2024
I have some good friends playing for different teams at this World Cup, not just France.
One of the players I know best and appreciate most is Christian Pulisic of the USA, who was my team-mate at Chelsea and AC Milan.
I was not surprised at how well he played against Paraguay because I think that he has got what it takes to take the US team to the next level over the next few weeks - hopefully the calf problem that meant he came off at half-time is nothing serious.
He was just a young kid when he came to Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in 2019 but even then he was an important player for his national team and they put a lot of hope, and also pressure, on him.
At Milan we used to call him by his nickname, 'Captain America' because even when he wasn't wearing the USA armband he was their star player, with the biggest profile.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Pulisic has scored 33 goals in 85 games for the USA. He became the youngest captain of his country's men's team when he was first handed the armband, aged 20
He had a big responsibility because he was the main face of their team and he was also successful in Europe. It is the same now, even though he has only had a so-so season for Milan. He started well, but then the team collapsed and did not qualify for the Champions League, and he went a few months without scoring.
But, whatever is going on with him at his club side, there always seems to be this expectation around Christian to deliver for the USA, and criticism when he doesn't.
Mental strength is massive for every player and I think he has been through some tough moments, with injuries or when he or the team has not been doing well, but they have all helped to make him the person he is and now he is ready to face this challenge.
Some people felt he was wrong to skip last summer's Gold Cup, when he told Mauricio Pochettino he needed to rest, but I felt then it was important to trust him because he knew his body better than anyone.
He was obviously thinking then about this summer, and the most important thing was what happened now.
Because he didn't play in that Gold Cup, there is probably even more expectation around him now for the World Cup, but I think he is aware of that, and he's ready for the responsibility, mentally and physically. At 27, he is still young but he is more mature now.
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Published 22 hours ago 'He reminded me of Eden Hazard' Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Giroud and Pulisic played together at Chelsea between 2019 and 2021, and for AC Milan in the 2023-24 season
As a person, Christian is someone who at first you might say is kind of a bit timid, but when you get to know him well, he really opens up.
He is a very caring guy, who looks out for people, but he's also someone who I've always had a really good laugh with. We hit it off straight away.
It was the same on the pitch. Straightaway, I loved playing with him at Chelsea. We had a great understanding and our games complimented each other so well.
I played as a target man and I needed some pace and movement around me - someone like him playing in the pocket between the lines and getting on the ball, looking for me and feeding off my flick-ons. Christian reminded me of Eden Hazard, with the way he took on opponents and found it easy to dribble past people.
He had so much talent, he just needed a nice environment around him - a good atmosphere in the team and also he needs to be loved, and appreciated, for him to be confident and play with freedom.
That was the difference between him and Eden - the way Eden was, he just played football for fun and he did not question himself too much. He was so relaxed while, sometimes, I felt like Christian was putting too much pressure on himself. He had too many things in his head.
It meant he played within himself sometimes for Chelsea, not expressing his talent, but it was different when he joined me at Milan in 2023. I said to the boys that he was going to be a proper plus for the team and he seemed to elevate his game and play with that confidence he needed.
He grew in Italy because he got older and got more experience. It was good for him at first to play in the Premier League against tough teams and tough defenders, and then also he has learned from being in Serie A where as an attacker you face some teams who, tactically, are just focused on you.
When Milan played with Rafael Leao, Christian and myself up front, we complimented each other a lot, and that is the kind of cohesion the United States will need too.
Christian needs his team-mates because he cannot do it all on his own - but if he has got the right players, he can bring them with him because he has got the experience and the quality to carry the team.
It was important that he ended his goal drought against Senegal at the end of May because it gave him some confidence to take into the World Cup too. No-one is expecting the USA to win this World Cup, but if they are going to reach the knockout stage, he will be key.
I have always thought the USA are lucky to have him, because he has skill AND intelligence. Talent on its own is not enough and, if you are not focused like he is, you won't achieve amazing things. I wish him nothing but the best.
Olivier Giroud was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Pulisic celebrates his goal in the USA's 3-1 friendly win over Senegal on 31 May. It was his first goal for club or country since he scored for AC Milan on 28 December, and also ended an eight-game drought for the USA that dated back to November 2024
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Sources: BBC Sport
