At 31, Antoine Griezmann has already thought several times about leaving the France team. For the post-World Cup, his decision has already been made a long time ago, long before the final lost against Argentina…
The announcement ultimately came as little surprise. While we felt cold with Didier Deschamps, Karim Benzema announced Monday via social networks the “end” of his career in the France team. At 35, the Ballon d’Or 2022, deprived of the World Cup in extremis because of an injury and sent home just before the start of the competition, therefore closes the door definitively to a return in blue. Will there be other departures announced in the coming days when a generation seems to be coming to the end of the road? For Antoine Griezmann, the decision has already been made, as reported by L’Equipe newspaper. And it was taken even before the World Cup final, so complicated for the midfielder.
Antoine Griezmann should re-enlist with the France team. He would have even let the staff know that he would continue with the Blues “as long as he plays in Europe”. A clarification that is not trivial since he has already declared that he was considering an end to his career in MLS, the American soccer championship. A semi-retirement which still does not seem to have arrived for the one who will soon resume the Spanish championship with Atlético de Madrid.
New doubts since the final?
Antoine Griezmann’s decision isn’t so obvious. According to revelations from The Team again, the Mâconais has several times thought of throwing in the towel with the Blues, especially in the spring of 2019, just before his transfer to FC Barcelona and after the snub inflicted during Euro 2021, with an elimination in the round of 16. Fatigue and lack of motivation will have almost deprived his teammates of their master to play. Each time, Didier Deschamps will have sought his strategist to bring him to reason.
Yesterday’s performance, transparent, can it still make Antoine Griezmann change his mind? We would obviously have dreamed of a sparkling Griezmann against Messi and his gang. A big match from the pillar of the France team would certainly have changed the course of the match and of history. But we have to face the facts: the one who has so often put the Blues right side up completely missed the Argentina – France World Cup final this Sunday, transparent or almost throughout the meeting, until until Didier Deschamps resolves to replace him with Kingsley Coman, 20 minutes from the end of regulation time.
A major role in the France team
It’s hard to blame the native of Mâcon as his contribution throughout the competition will have been precious. Withdrawn into the position of midfielder since the start of the World Cup, the player – we dare not say the striker – has chained races, pressing phases, recoveries in several compartments of the field and even often in the surface of the Blues , with some key saves throughout the four weeks of competition. The performance of Antoine Griezmann, incredible accuracy especially during the semi-final against Morocco, will be hailed from all sides, installing him as one of the best players of this 2022 World Cup. Until the final this cursed Sunday.
If “Grizou”, with his more defensive role, does not benefit (or no longer) from a position favorable to brilliant blows like a Kylian Mbappé or an Olivier Giroud, he nevertheless does a titanic job of recovering the balls and putting the France team heads upright in key moments. A role that could prove valuable in view of Euro 2024 in Germany or even, why not, the 2026 World Cup in North America.