The resurrection of Griezmann, removed from the Blues and the Deschamps-Mbappé duo | EUROtoday

L’announcement of his worldwide retirement on the finish of September stunned everybody. An emblematic government of the France staff for ten years, Antoine Griezmann has determined to depart behind a chapter with painful closing traces. The armband given to Kylian Mbappé after the departure of Lloris, Euro 2024 crossed like a shadow, his downgrade inside the Blues: after having been the simple darling of Didier Deschamps, the 33-year-old striker had a nasty time in his final outings in choice.

The closing picture of Griezmann within the French jersey may nicely be a lap of honor in a Parc des Princes which had already emptied after the defeat (1-3) of the Blues towards Italy final September. It’s tough to think about such an epilogue for a serious participant within the historical past of the France staff: document holder for the variety of consecutive alternatives (137) and assists (38), 2 titles, together with the 2018 World Cup. the picture of Kopa, Platini and Zidane earlier than him, Griezmann marked a whole era.

ALSO READ PSG, Blues, Real: Kylian Mbappé’s darkish 12 monthsAs if he had freed himself from a weight since his separation with the Blues, the native of Mâcon has been remodeled with Atlético de Madrid. Involved in 17 targets for the reason that begin of the season and able to good inspirations, akin to his good help towards PSG within the Champions League to attain victory within the closing moments on November 6, the striker goes by a affluent interval . Physically, the absence of worldwide matches permits him to get better higher at 33 years previous. But the athletic side is just not the one profit: his function on the pitch can also be very clear, carried by Diego Simeone who is aware of him by coronary heart on the membership. From now on, Atlético is within the struggle for the La Liga title, dealing with Barça and Real, and Griezmann has nothing to do with it.

No room for 2 roosters

Positioned on the entrance of the assault, typically in help of one other heart ahead, Griezmann has complete freedom to undertake and make variations. In his final appearances with the French staff, the 2018 world champion was moved round in a number of positions, generally relegated to the background, even within the thoughts of Deschamps who determined to guess every thing on Mbappé. Having develop into its captain after the worldwide retirement of Hugo Lloris, the star striker of French soccer has by no means been known as into query, regardless of his disappointing performances on the Euro. Griezmann has not at all times benefited from the identical indulgence.

In high-level soccer, every thing is a query of ego, and the French staff is not any exception. The undisputed standing of Mbappé and the blindness of Deschamps ended up irritating Griezmann who didn’t need to endure the tip of his worldwide profession as a easy Swiss military knife. Is the story definitively over with the Blues? The particular person involved had indicated to Canal+ that he didn’t intend to do a Zidane 2005 and to reverse his choice. “I’m blissful to have left this lovely mark. It’s over, I’m not going again. It wasn’t an impulse, it was fastidiously thought-about. »

Many are nonetheless hoping for a convincing comeback in view of the 2026 World Cup. But, within the meantime, France continues on its merry method and completed on the prime of its Nations League group, with out Griezmann… nor Mbappé, who determined to give attention to Real. The story of a brand new era embodied by Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise and Manu Koné is being written. For Grizou, the journey has been splendid, however every thing should come to an finish.