Olivier Giroud will lead the line for France tonight as they kick-off Euro 2016 against Romania. For the Arsenal striker it will be a special moment, all the more so given the slow and winding route he’s taken to the top of international football.

On the eve of the tournament, the Gunner sat down for a chat with Le Figaro…we’ve done our best to translate it.

What’s your first memory of Les Bleus?

France vs Bulgaria in 1993 at the Parcs des Princes when Kostadinov stopped us from going to the World Cup in the USA. I was just seven and it was my first sad experience of Les Bleus. A bad memory [laughs].

Who is you childhood idol?

Jean-Pierre Papin! He was an attacker, like me, so that was inevitably appealing. But not just that. He used to do beautiful ‘Papinades’ [a spectacular, airborne volley usually from an unusual angle] that I always tried to reproduce as a kid with my friends. Even now in training there’s a few who’ll testify to my bicycle kick…but I break my back every time when I fall [laughs]. I don’t forget Zidane either who made me, like everybody else, dream in 1998.

Was it a family ritual to watch France games?

Completely. In 1998 my support was unconditional. It really is the first competition that I followed with real fervor. As a family we used to wear the red, white and blue face paint. On 12 July 1998 [night of the final vs Brazil] we took to the street celebrating the success.

Where were you when France won Euro 2000?

In the United States with my club. I was 14 and despite the time difference it was crazy. We partied like crazy. These two events marked my childhood and more than anything confirmed to me that I wanted to be a footballer.

At this point were you already dreaming of the French team?

Not at all! I couldn’t even imagine a quarter of that. Inevitably, you have dreams in your head, visions of what you want to do, like all youngsters in football, but to think I’d actually get called up, I never thought that.

Talk about your career in football…

I didn’t sign for a club at 17 even after years on the training ground. I was not destined for a career that was mapped out, I had to go and get her. I’m proud of my carer. My progress, it’s a little silly to say but it’s the case, has always been step by step. I’ve known important stages moving the National league to Ligue 2 then Ligue 1 with Montpellier. It’s the same with Franck Ribery, Mathieu Valbuena and Lolo [Laurent Koscielny], they’ve experienced an unusual path to Les Bleus and it’s happening more and more.

When you were in Ligue 2 with Tours did a national team call up seem impossible?

Completely. My goal at the time [2008-10] was to become top scorer. You can imagine that I didn’t think at all about the France team [smiles]. At this moment my ambition was to play in Ligue 1 and in England. With Les Bleus…when I started to score regularly in Ligue 1 I heard murmurs about a call-up. But it took a while.

How did you find out?

My coaches at Montpellier, René Girard and Pascal Baills, let slip when I was coming out of the gym that I’d be getting a call. I was crazy. I got chills.

Is it a strength to have ‘struggled’ compared to your peers and opponents?

Yes, certainly. It allows me to keep things in perspective. I’m aware of how privileged I am to have seized my chance. One could say I’ve a lucky star above my head.

In November 2011, you played at the Stade de France for the first team in the France shirt. Tell us about that…

The shirt was heavy to wear [laughs]! You’re thinking about your family, your relatives, you shiver when you hear your name read aloud in the stadium. It wasn’t easy to sleep the day before the match. I’ll keep my first jersey for the rest of my life. Nobody will take it.

And your first Marseillaise?

Again, it was a great moment. It had a special meaning because I’d learnt the anthem by heart with my grandmother when I was a child. Her name is Antonia, she’s of Italian origin. I was only 10 years old but she was adamant that I mastered the words perfectly and understood the meaning of each sentence. I was instilled with these values and they have meaning today. It’s a beautiful memory.

Despite the criticism, you continue to be selected for the national team. You march on with pride…

Possibly. I attach great importance to one of my mottos, told to me by my brother. “Building the road to success never stops.” Even in football, where after every weekend, you can fall down or be congratulated. We have to prove we want to score goals, to win titles. And to make history. This is what I want. I want to make my family proud.

What’s your goal at this Euros, to make history with France?

Sure. We’re representing all France and it’s our duty to give the maximum and make the public proud. When you play the Euros at home it makes sense to leave a mark in history with the France team. There is a big expectation, but we’re ready. The challenge excites me. When the competition starts, it’ll be enormous. I don’t currently need sleeping pills to sleep, I’m hoping I won’t [smiles].

Are you facing the biggest challenge of your career?

Yes. The pressure is on but it shouldn’t inhibit us. I’m eager to get back to the Stade de France to play Romania and open the campaign.

What’s your dream?

It was Platini’s destiny to score nine goals in the Euros [in 1984], that’s huge. The fate of David Trezeguet was to score the golden goal against Italy in 2000. It’s not bad! It would suit me well to be honest. I’d sign up for that to happen immediately. Whether it’s more or another player. Winning the Euros is our common goal.