For almost seven years, Didier Deschamps had adopted a habit envied by all his fellow coaches: that of being able to tick off with his eyes closed, on each match sheet, the name of one of his best players. For the first time since 2017, the French coach will have to do without Antoine Griezmann, for the two upcoming friendly matches of the French men’s football team, against Germany (March 23) and Chile (March 26). ), according to information from RMC Sport that Le Monde was able to confirm.
The 32-year-old striker was forced to leave the last gathering of the Blues before the start of the Euro in Germany on Monday March 18 due to pain in his right ankle. Initially summoned and arrived like his teammates at the Clairefontaine National Football Center (Yvelines) Monday morning, Antoine Griezmann gave up playing the two matches of the France team after consulting the Blues medical staff.
Victim of a sprain, the Atlético de Madrid player was injured during the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League against Inter Milan (0-1) on February 21. The Frenchman returned to competition mid-last week, during the return match against Inter, and helped the Colchoneros qualify for the quarter-finals by scoring a goal (2-1, 3-2 tab). An undoubtedly hasty return, since those around the player said on Monday that his ankle was “still very painful”.
Sunday March 17, Griezmann only came on at half-time in the match his team lost against FC Barcelona in the Spanish league (0-3). His pain has therefore increased and will prevent him from continuing his record series of consecutive matches played with the France team. The counter will stop at 84, while Griezmann had not missed a single meeting of the Blues since France-England in June 2017 (3-2).
The choice of reason
Antoine Griezmann therefore shattered the previous record, until then held by Patrick Vieira, who had played 44 matches with the France team between October 1999 and October 2002. In January, the best passer in the history of the Blues confided to Le Monde his attachment to this series of consecutive matches: “Representing the French team is something magnificent, and that’s why I have this record. It’s because I love this team. There were times when I almost couldn’t play, but I made the effort for the selection. »
This time, Griezmann preferred not to take risks. Despite the “great frustration” mentioned by those around him following this package, the vice-captain of the Blues made the choice of reason, aware of the deadlines that will present themselves to him in the coming weeks and months. Griezmann must play the quarter-finals of the Champions League with Atlético de Madrid, then the Euro in June with the France team. In Le Monde, in February, he expressed his determination to “participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games” this summer.
In his absence, the France team will have to find a new master to play against Germany and Chile. A jack of all trades capable of making the French game more fluid, Griezmann has a very particular profile among the Blues. “As a replacement position for position, it is very, very, very difficult to find,” underlined Didier Deschamps on Monday at a press conference.
Once is not customary, the coach will therefore have to rack his brains to find at this gathering an alternative to the one he designated himself as his “darling” in November, when no player in the current squad does not have the same central attacking midfielder profile. “We will arrange things differently if necessary,” said Deschamps, who hopes to be able to count on Griezmann for the next rally. The one that will really count, before the start of the Euro.
