When France lost N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba, both out of the World Cup through injury, it seemed unlikely that the key to restructuring the team’s midfield lay in the feet of the third-highest goalscorer in national team history.
But few players could adapt as well to a major change in style as Antoine Griezmann, 31.
Scorer of 42 goals for the French team, he has technique, intelligence and pace that make him capable of adapting to multiple roles on the pitch.
In every game he played in Qatar, the number 7 proved that. Against Morocco, according to Fifa data, he touched the ball in all sectors of the field. There were 48 participations, from submission attempts to defense kicks. Without ceremony.
Voted man of the match, he was an important part of the construction of the first goal, scored by Theo Hernández. And then he helped the team to hold the advantage with tackles, dribbling and good passes, until Kolo Muani sealed the 2-0 victory.
“He takes as much pleasure in disarming as he does in making a pass. With his left foot, he has the ability to light up the game. He always thinks collectively, he has an above average generosity”, highlighted coach Didier Deschamps.
On social media, even Pogba joked with his friend. He posted a photo and in the caption joined his name with that of his teammate Kanté: “Griezmannkante”, he wrote in the caption.
With assists for goals by Mbappé, Giroud and Tchouaméni, Griezmann also leads the ranking in the item, tied with four other players, one of them, the Argentine Lionel Messi.
“It’s very liberating to be present in the relationship between defense and attack, connected defensively and helping my teammates offensively,” said Griezmann.
His versatility will again be fundamental for France this Sunday (18th), in the final against Argentina, at 12h (Brasília time), in Lusail.
It will also be his last opportunity to score a goal in this Cup. In 2018, he scored four times, including in the decider against Croatia, which the French won 4-2.
Mbappé also left his mark on the clash. The two now have the chance to repeat a rare feat at Worlds.
In its 92-year history, only four players have scored goals in two World Cup finals. And striker Vavá, twice world champion with the Brazilian national team (1958 and 1962), was the only one who scored in two consecutive editions.
Pelé also scored in 1958, but missed the 1962 decision and only scored again in the 1970 decision. Then it was the turn of the German Breitner, with goals in the 1974 and 1982 finals. a Frenchman, Zinédine Zidane, with goals in 1998 and 2006.
Griezmann, however, doesn’t seem to mind. Since Deschamps changed his role, the biggest concern is fulfilling his role.
To that end, he doesn’t even mind asking advice from younger athletes like 23-year-old Youssouf Fofana. A Monaco player, the midfielder has been giving his teammate tips on how to fill in the spaces without the ball.
“On the defensive side, he [Griezmann] it’s remarkable. He does well in combat, plugs holes. And, every time he touches the ball, he tries to light up the game and he does it very well. He is the image of the team”, praises the full-back Koundé.
The good reviews he has received reflect well the metamorphosis he has gone through since debuting on football’s biggest stage.
In his first World Cup, in 2014, he stood out playing on the right wing. Four years later, he was a key player in the title campaign playing on the other side. This time, the most common place to find him is in the most central areas of the field.
“Without a good defense you can’t win big competitions. We’re all focused on that, even if we have attacking players. [ajudando na defesa]”, says shirt number 7.
His reading of the game also shows an important trait of his personality. He doesn’t have the vanity that, for example, Mbappé demonstrates. He is also not a leader like the goalkeeper and captain Lloris, 35, but he presents himself precisely as someone capable of uniting a group made up of different personalities.
The French press often says that he is the famous “bon-vivant”. He gets along well with his teammates and is popular with the crowd.
The only player to have been on the pitch in every game France has played in the past three World Cups, he will once again have the chance to build on the affection he has already won this Sunday.
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