5 European footballers who feature more for their countries than their clubs

#3: Olivier Giroud (Chelsea/France)

Olivier Giroud has struggled for game-time on the club level

2018 FIFA World Cup winner Olivier Giroud struggled for game-time under new Chelsea manager Frank Lampard as he made only 18 Premier League appearances for the London club last season.

Although he would be happy with his goal return of eight, which was more than what he had cumulatively managed in his first two seasons at the club, Giroud mostly came off the bench and rarely started under the former Chelsea player.

Despite his intermittent club appearances, the striker played all ten games in France's successful Euro 2020 qualifying campaign last year, scoring six goals which included winners against Iceland (away) and Moldova (home).

With goals today against Iceland, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann continue to climb the ranks of France's all-time scorers list 📈🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/lLaoCa7OWQ

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 25, 2019

The Frenchman has been named in the reigning World champions' squad to take on Sweden in their 2020-21 UEFA Nations League opener as he closes in on 100 appearances for Les Bleus even as rumours continue to swirl over his club future.

#4: Antoine Greizmann (Barcelona/France)

Antoine Greizmann did not have many moments to rejoice during his debut season at Barcelona

After making a high-profile €120 million move from Atletico Madrid to Barcelona last summer, Antoine Greizmann lost his scoring touch as he recorded his first sub-10-goal La Liga season for the first time since 2011-12.

The Frenchman did not start enough games as he struggled to adapt to his new surroundings while playing away from his preferred position. Goals were also hard to come by in Europe as the 29-year-old striker's domestic form spilled onto the continental stage.

9 - Antoine Griezmann has scored his first away Champions League goal since February 2017 for Atletico Madrid against Bayer Leverkusen; each of his nine goals in the competition between that strike in 2017 and today had been scored at home. Equaliser. pic.twitter.com/IJbdS6fB2Z

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 25, 2020

Nevertheless, Greizmann remained a fixture with his national team as he played all ten Euro 2020 qualifying games in France's successful campaign. The Barcelona striker has expectedly been named in Les Bleus' opening game against Sweden in the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League.

#5 Gareth Bale (Real Madrid/Wales)

Gareth Bale has fallen out of favour with Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane

It is no secret that Gareth Bale has become surplus to requirements under new Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane.

The Welshman played only 16 games all season and featured in only two of 11 games after the resumption of football following the COVID-19 outbreak as Real Madrid won the Liga title.

Bale failed to make the Real Madrid squad for the Champions League Round of 16 second-leg tie against Manchester City as the record 13-time winners crashed out at the first knockout round for the second consecutive season.

105 - Gareth Bale has scored 105 goals in 251 appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions, but only three in 2019/20 (20 apps), his worst goal tally for the Whites. Uncertainty. pic.twitter.com/X1J2gzGe0P

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 2, 2020

Despite uncertainties over his club future, Bale featured in eight Euro 2020 qualifying games for Wales and also played in the country's 1-0 win over Finland on Thursday.