Olivier Giroud (picture), jeered by France fans barely a month ago, won them over on Sunday with what he described as his best performance for his country in a major tournament, scoring twice in a 5-2 win over Iceland at Euro 2016.

The 29-year-old did not want to dwell for too long on his own display and said that the team’s achievement in reaching the semi-finals was more important than his official Man of the Match award.

“I’m pleased, nothing more than that,” Giroud told reporters.

“I don’t know if that’s my best performance for France because I’ve played some other good games but in a major tournament, such as Euro 2012 and the World Cup in Brazil, that is my best. I felt good from the start.”

Giroud made the squad after recovering from a lean spell at Arsenal with a strong finish to the English Premier League season.

He was jeered off the pitch by France fans in a 3-2 win in Cameroon in a pre-tournament friendly before silencing critics with two goals in a 3-0 win over Scotland in Les Bleus’ final warm-up for the Euros.

Giroud had an extra problem with the French fans, many of whom felt he had been picked only because Karim Benzema, facing a ban because of his involvement in an alleged blackmail scandal, was left out.

Nevertheless, he is France’s top scorer under coach Didier Deschamps with 20 goals in 53 appearances.