Hugo Lloris has said he spoke to Olivier Giroud before his fellow Fifa World Cup winner decided to join him at MLS club LAFC but had “never expected” to play with the striker so late in his career.
Goalkeeper Lloris spent 12 years at Tottenham before moving to his new side this year, encountering Giroud in the Premier League during the targetman’s spells with Arsenal and Chelsea.
The 37-year-olds, who were France team-mates between 2011 and 2022, will be reunited on the pitch when Giroud makes his debut for LAFC, having announced earlier this month that he will leave Milan for The Black and Gold Falcons.
“When he was in negotiations with LAFC, we had a talk about the life, the team, the club,” Lloris told the MLS.
“It was always in his mind to join the MLS one day. When there was the opportunity, he took it. We never expected to be together at this final stage of our careers, so it’s going to be really nice to share these moments.”
Another special guest (and All-Star) in the booth: Hugo Lloris 🇫🇷
The @LAFC ‘keeper catches up with our crew at the #MLSAllStar Skills Challenge pres. by @ATT. pic.twitter.com/oP7tGADH6V
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 24, 2024
📰 Table Of Contents
MLS All Star Game
Lloris is preparing to play in the 2024 MLS All Star Game, when a squad from the US top flight will take on their counterparts from Mexico’s Liga MX.
France’s record cap-holder is one of the most high-profile names among the MLS ranks, alongside the likes of defender Jordi Alba, midfielders Sergio Busquets and Riqui Puig and striker Christian Benteke.
“You want to compete against the best and the Mexican teams are really good,” said Lloris. “Challenging them in competitions can only improve the football here.”
Looking back at the Crossbar Challenge. #MLSAllStar pic.twitter.com/4UaiZQOB0u
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 24, 2024
What time is the MLS All Star Game?
The match in Columbus kicks off on Wednesday, July 24 at 8pm ET, which is 5pm PT or 1am BST on Thursday in the UK.
Lloris is expecting the occasion to add to what he describes as his enjoyment of the “general experience” of playing in the US.
“The league is really competitive – more than I expected – and there are a lot of good coaches, talented players and nice stadiums,” he added. “I’m really impressed with the fanbase.”
How to watch the MLS All Star Game: TV channel, live stream
The 2024 MLS All-Star Game will also be available on Apple TV, which broadcasts regular-season MLS matches.
Fans will not, however, have to pay a subscription to watch the match at the Lower.com Field because the game is freely available through the Apple TV app.
The game could pit Lloris against one of his former France team-mates in Andre-Pierre Gignac, who plays for Mexican club Tigres UANL.
“We were together in the national team for many years and we know each other well,” said Lloris. “We are good friends and it’s nice to see each other in Colombus. He’s had a lot of success in Mexico and he deserves that because he’s a great player and person.”
Sergio Busquets brings it home for the MLS squad. 🏁#MLSAllStar Passing Challenge pres. by @OldSpice pic.twitter.com/8kiiIsISYc
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 24, 2024
Is Lionel Messi playing in the MLS All Star Game?
Inter Miami’s Messi is one of five players who have been declared unavailable for the match, alongside team-mate Luis Suarez, Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson, Cristian Arango of Real Salt Lake and Ryan Gauld, of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Messi suffered an ankle injury during Argentina’s Copa America triumph earlier this month, while Suarez has a knee issue.
Twelve of the 28 MLS squad members were decided by a combined vote of fan, media and players, with 16 selected by head coach Wilfried Nancy, of host team Columbus Crew, and two picked by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
