Giroud actually is doing a fantastic job for his team. You have to look it as a combination and he is the decoy. I don't want to see him as No. 9 of this fantastic France team, but he is perfectly doing the dirty job.
First, at 6'4", he is an asset in set piece, at either end and he drags back lot - his pitch map is almost flat in both box!!! Then, he engages both CBs when France is counter attacking with their speedy forwards - he holds on to ball with face towards Lloris, pushes intelligent through balls, moves brilliantly within box and his lay-ups are perfect for a team that has 3 of the fastest forwards in game. On record, he put a brilliant through to Mbappe (For his 2nd against Arges), he pulled both the CB against Peru for Mbappe to tap in, he earned the corner against Belgium and in both headed goals from set piece, he actually was first mover to shed the scores - Varane & Umtiti. Besides, one lacking in this wonderful French team is that, their forwards are vertically challenged - Mbappe 5'10", Fekir 5'7", Griezmann 5'7", Dembele 5'9", Lemar 5'7" ..... he is giving France both option in attack.
Coming to the comparison, Kane is a better scorer for sure, but overall No. 9 target man, I'll pick Giroud - that's after complaining whole WC for him starting; I expect France to play like Klopp's Liverpool, not JoMou's MU. May be Karim could have done the same with lot more in other aspects, but Giroud's contribution can't be neglected in 2018 WC. Deschamps was Conte's partner at Juve for 6 years, then both managed Juve - their tactics are from old Italian game and very similar; it's not surprising that Griezmann mocked Courtois (regarding France's tactics against Belgium) with his Chelsea team, not Belgium against Brazil. Conte is a brilliant Manager - he bought Giroud in January, and made him 1st choice over Morata............. Deschamps from same school has opted Giroud over Karim & Lecazzette - can't be coincidence.
Among top CF's Kane is the only one who takes penalty in EPL - hence it was easier for him to win 2 Golden boots in EPL; but he is no Rooney or Owen for sure.
