Days after Socceroo Jason Cummings accused Olivier Giroud of snubbing his request for a jersey swap after their World Cup group stages clash, the French champion has issued the perfect response.
Cummings told Channel 10’s The Project during the week that following France’s 4-1 win over Australia, he’d first attempted to swap shirts with eventual Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe; when that was rebuffed, he’d turned to Giroud, with similar results.
“After the France game, I actually tried to get Mbappe – forget Giroud, I went for the top boy Mbappe – and he told me to meet him in the change rooms,” he said.
“So I went to the changing room and the kit man was there and I gave him my top. 10 minutes later he came out with my jersey and says: ‘Nah, absolutely not, he [Mbappe] doesn’t want to swap’.
“So I was walking back to my changeroom and I’ve seen Giroud and I’m walking, as handsome as ever, and I asked him, ‘Giroud, please man, can I get your shirt man? I’m a big fan, can I get your shirt?’
“And he just walked past me, pretended he never spoke English! And he’s been in the Premier League for 10 years!
“He just walked right past me!”
However, Giroud took to Twitter to clear his name, revealing he had no problems swapping shirts with Cummings’ fellow Socceroo Jackson Irvine – or understanding English.
Irvine quickly responded with a photo of Giroud’s jersey, proudly claiming it was ‘one for the wall’.
It wasn’t Cummings’ only interaction with a world football superstar to go viral – he has also jokingly claimed credit for inspiring Lionel Messi and Argentina’s run to World Cup glory after both passing on a message after they took out the Socceroos in their round of 16 clash and sent him a message via Instagram before the final.
“I think I deserve a lot of credit – he’s definitely checked his phone just before, he’s seen the Cumdog pop up on his Instagram there,” Cummings said on The Project.
“He’s checked that and it just gave him that extra motivation.”
Celebrity chef ‘Salt Bae’ is being investigated by FIFA after gatecrashing Argentina’s World Cup final celebrations in Qatar.
The Polish chef and Instagram star, who was wearing a FIFA VIP vest throughout the evening, repeatedly annoyed the Argentina team as they attempted to celebrate their win over France.
He was eventually able to secure a selfie with champion Lionel Messi, before snatching the World Cup trophy from a player and allegedly performing his signature ‘salt-sprinkling’ gesture.
He has since posted to Instagram showing him kissing and caressing the trophy, with FIFA officials reportedly aghast.
According to FIFA rules, only former winners and heads of state can touch the trophy, worth a cool $30 million, aside from the victorious team.
The sporting body have refused to confirm or deny whether Salt Bae, whose real name is Nusret Gökçe, was authorised to access the pitch following the match.
He is known, however, to be close with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, leading to accusations of preferential treatment.
Manchester City have beaten holders Liverpool 3-2 in a League Cup thriller, taking the lead three times before holding on to reach the quarter-finals.
Defender Nathan Ake headed in what proved to be the winning goal in the 58th minute after Liverpool’s Mo Salah had equalised a minute after Riyad Mahrez restored City’s advantage early in the second half.
Erling Haaland scored his 24th goal of the season in all competitions to put City ahead in the 10th minute at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday but Liverpool responded in the 20th, when Fabio Carvalho knocked in a James Milner pass to complete a flowing move.
It was another fast and furious game between the two rivals who took the Premier League title race to a dramatic conclusion last season and once again it was City who finished on top.
City coach Pep Guardiola and his counterpart Jurgen Klopp named strong sides in their first game back since the domestic season paused for the World Cup.
The hosts started six players who featured in Qatar, although striker Julian Alvarez was absent as he remained in Argentina celebrating his country’s triumph.
The quarter-final draw was made after the match, and handed City a trip to Southampton.
Third-tier Charlton Athletic, the only non-top-flight side left in the competition, were rewarded for their penalty shootout victory over EPL Brighton in the round of 16 with a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the last eight.
Nottingham Forest host Wolves in a Midlands derby, while Newcastle United will welcome Leicester City.
The quarter-finals will take place in the week commencing January 9.
QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Manchester United v Charlton
Southampton v Manchester City
Nottingham Forest v Wolves
Newcastle United v Leicester City
Sam Kerr has opened the scoring for Chelsea as the London side overcame Paris St Germain to secure top spot in their Champions League group.
Lauren James added the other two goals in Chelsea’s 3-0 win in front of 10,129 fans at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
Emma Hayes’ unbeaten side had already qualified for the knockout phase and simply needed to avoid defeat to their French opponents by two or more goals to lock up their position.
Kerr broke the deadlock shortly before halftime, bursting clear and neatly transferring the ball from her right to left foot before unleashing an unstoppable effort into the top right corner.
After an even first half, the momentum shifted in the hosts’ favour after the restart when James, who had threatened throughout the opening period, netted twice in seven minutes.
Fran Kirby nearly set up a late fourth for the Blues but substitute Beth England directed her effort just off target, eliciting a gasp but not a goal as the game drew to a close.
The Blues’ final group-stage match marked the first time since 2016 Chelsea had taken on European rivals at the club’s Premier League venue.
Kerr’s side and PSG move into the quarter-finals alongside Caitlin Foord’s Arsenal, as well as Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Lyon, Roma and Wolfsburg.
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