Olivier Giroud The footballer responsible for a spectacular ‘scorpion kick’ goal during a New Year’s game in the English premier league has said God helped him to carry off the near-impossible shot to bring his team to victory.
Playing with Arsenal in the January 1 face-off against south London’s Crystal Palace, French international Olivier Giroud made the most of a pass delivered behind him to flick the ball with the back of his heel and send it on target for what was immediately described by pundits as an early contender for ‘Goal of the Season’.
Clearly delighted with the results of his masterly display, Giroud afterwards thanked God for the goal: “I needed God’s help to score this goal,” he told an interviewer at full time, when Arsenal had beaten Palace 2-0. A proclaimed Catholic – he has stated that he is “a strong believer” – Olivier Giroud carries a reminder of his faith into every game in the form of a tattoo on his forearm which is a Latin rendering of Psalm 23: Dominus regit me et nihil mihi deerit – The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Though he does not cross himself in preparation for competition as so many athletes do, Giroud has said he says a prayer before every game.