Olivier Giroud has insisted that making people forget that Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was left out of the France squad has not been a motivation for him at Euro 2016.
Benzema, 28, was omitted from the host country's 23-man squad for the tournament due to off-field concerns. But his name has been barely been mentioned since the competition got underway, thanks in the main to goals from Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet.
Giroud, 29, scored a brace in France's 5-2 quarterfinal win over Iceland on Sunday as his side booked a meeting with world champions Germany in the last four.
And speaking ahead of Thursday's semifinal in Marseille, the Arsenal striker said he has not been out to prove that those who predicted France would miss Benzema were wrong.
"I admit that I don't think about that," Giroud told a news conference. "I think about the objective of the team, the game.
"I'm not making it a personal issue. Karim is a player of the French team -- he will be brought back. I have no problem with him. I don't want any misunderstandings, innuendo or any sentences taken out of context, so I have nothing special to say in relation to that.
"I'm enjoying myself playing in the competition with France and I'm trying to achieve our goal. Full stop."
Benzema was suspended from national team duty after being charged with conspiracy to blackmail last November as part of an alleged attempt to extort money from his France teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
Meanwhile French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet said he is relieved that Didier Deschamps' side are in the semifinals.
"It's a relief for everyone," Le Graet told L'Equipe.
"The TV channels are breaking viewing records, our [sponsorship] partners are happy, more papers are being sold -- at least I hope so.
"By staying in the running until the final week, we've maintained the interest of everyone -- fans and the media. It's great.
"We're in the last four, but our players are not satisfied. They want to have it out with Germany."