Antoine Griezmann: The Backbone of France’s National Team Faces Uncertain Future

2024-03-18 16:43:00

Ten years. It’s been ten years, since March 5, 2014 against the Netherlands (2-0) that the France team and Didier Deschamps have placed their trust in Antoine Griezmann. And that the Atlético de Madrid player does them well. Ten years since the native of Mâcon missed a gathering. He hasn’t missed a match in almost seven, since June 13, 2017 against England. That’s 84 meetings in a row with Grizou on the pitch for at least one part of the match.

But now these absolutely crazy series could end this month of March. Because the right ankle which had forced the left-hander to miss four matches with the Colchoneros is visibly acting up again. The pain awoke on Sunday evening during the clash between Atlético and FC Barcelona, ​​according to Didier Deschamps. Who will therefore possibly have to do without his most faithful soldier. But how ?

“With the qualities of Antoine in his register, we are not going to find a player who has these characteristics, immediately warned the coach of the Blues. If he has the record of matches in a row it is because ‘it took up a lot of space, that it was systematically there.’ We are in fact talking about the 4th player with the most selections in the history of the Blues (127). His 4th top scorer, too (44 goals).

Beyond the figures and the experience, it is an incomparable activity, an incomparable profile, the absence of which must be filled. “When we know Antoine’s influence… As a replacement position for position, I don’t like the word impossible, but it’s very, very, very difficult to find. So we will arrange it a little differently.” Complicated, in fact, to replace a player capable of shining as much in the midfield, which he has done since the 2022 World Cup, as on the attacking front. Deschamps still has a lot of talent on hand, but will possibly have to find some strength.

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