Morocco star Amrabat frustrated after being followed ‘everywhere’ by Giroud: “Just stop!”

By Oliver Fisher -

Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat has joked that he told France striker Olivier Giroud to stop following him around during their World Cup semi-final meeting.

Morocco’s incredible World Cup run came to an end against the defending champions on Wednesday night as France won 2-0 thanks to goals from Milan defender Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani.

Amrabat had put in several superb displayers throughout the competition to that point and France boss Didier Deschamps clearly wanted to disrupt his ability to build play out from in front of the defence, instructing Milan striker Giroud to hassle him. Amrabat was certainly hassled.

“Their striker, Olivier Giroud, followed me everywhere all over the field. I said to him, just stop! He replied that he was instructed to follow me for the whole game,” he said to NOS (via Goal).

“We feel very bitter that we couldn’t do more. France let us have the initiative from the start, so I guess that’s a compliment really. Unfortunately, it was tough after stupidly conceding such an early goal and we had to play into their hands, with the pace they have upfront.”

It comes after Zlatan Ibrahimovic picked out the Fiorentina man for special praise earlier in the week, and Milan are actually one of the clubs that he is being linked with as transfer speculation ramps up following such an impressive tournament.

Tags AC Milan Olivier Giroud Sofyan Amrabat
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