Giroud Scores First Goal as Lille Win Season Opener at Angers
Lille started their new Ligue 1 season with a win away at Angers.
French striker Olivier Giroud scored the team's first goal of the season in the match.
After the game, Giroud spoke about his early goal. He said, "I like to start strong."
Giroud has a long history of scoring on the opening day of the season for his teams.
Lille also kept up an impressive record: they have not lost their first Ligue 1 fixture in ten years.
The win at Angers means that record now continues for another season.
For Lille, starting the season with a victory is important. It gives the team confidence for the games ahead.
Giroud has long been known as a reliable goalscorer in French and European football.
He has played for several top clubs and has also scored many goals for the French national team.
His comment about liking to "start strong" shows his focus on beginning each season well.
Lille fans will hope this early goal and win are a sign of a good season to come.
The team's coaching staff will now prepare for the next match, aiming to build on this positive start.
Angers, the home team, will look to recover and improve in their coming fixtures.
Vocabulary10 words
- goal
- when a player puts the ball in the net
- record
- something special that has stayed the same for a long time
- fixture
- a planned sports match
- confidence
- a feeling of trust in your own ability
- goalscorer
- a player who often scores goals
- national team
- the team that plays for a whole country
- coaching staff
- the people who train and manage a team
- opening day
- the very first day of a season
- striker
- a player whose job is to score goals
- victory
- a win in a game or competition
Quiz
Answer key
1. "I like to start strong." 2. Ten years without losing their season opener 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Lille started their new Ligue 1 season with a _____ away at Angers.
French striker Olivier Giroud scored the team's first goal of the _____ in the match.
After the game, Giroud spoke about his early goal. He said, "I like to _____ strong."
Giroud has a long history of scoring on the _____ day of the season for his teams.
Lille also kept up an impressive record: they have not lost their first Ligue 1 _____ in ten years.
The win at Angers means that record now _____ for another season.
For Lille, starting the season with a victory is important. It gives the team _____ for the games ahead.
Giroud has long been known as a reliable _____ in French and European football.
He has played for several top clubs and has also scored many goals for the French _____.
His comment about liking to "start strong" shows his focus on beginning each _____ well.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think a strong start to a season is important for a football team?
- How might Giroud's experience help younger players on the team?
- Do you think records like "not losing the opening match for ten years" matter to fans? Why or why not?
- What qualities do you think make a good striker in football?