Graeme Souness has claimed former Chelsea striker and France international Olivier Giroud is just overrated.

The 36 year old striker became the joint-highest goalscorer for France alongside Thierry Henry after scoring twice in France 4-1 victory over Australia at the World Cup.

“I’m not his biggest fan,” Souness told ITV. “I’m just not. Seven games in the last World Cup, he’s a centre-forward in the team that wins it, he’s not had a shot on target.

“I think he’s very lucky. When you mention him in the same breath as Thierry Henry, I’m sorry…

“I would say his record is there for one reason and one reason only: Karim Benzema being out for such a long time, all the controversy he was involved in.

“Benzema, the current Ballon d’Or winner, will be missed by the French team in this tournament if they go deep.

“Benzema is on another level [to Giroud], that’s the point I’m making.

“The goalscoring record again… Apart from Benzema being out, the other [reason is because of] the amount of games the French team play in all these daft competitions.

“You are smirking, but I just think it’s an anomaly. I don’t believes he’s… At 36, fair play to him. He’s still playing in the French team.

“His best season in English football was 16 goals for Arsenal in our league. That’s a marker for anyone.

“[But] I don’t think he’d get a look-in at this World Cup if Benzema had been here. He’s had a large slice of luck in his career.”