Antoine Griezmann KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP
The vice-captain of the French team holds a record which symbolizes remarkable longevity in the selection.
At a time when technicians and players are complaining about the “hellish pace”, when injuries are multiplying, a man seems unbreakable. Unshakeable. At 32, Antoine Griezmann has just completed an 82nd match in a row played with the France team on Tuesday evening against Scotland (4-1). A record. For comparison, the previous holder of this series was Patrick Vieira… with 44 consecutive matches in the blue jersey between 1999 and 2002. Since August 31, 2017 against the Netherlands, “Grizou”, the most decisive player under the The Deschamps era (125 caps, 44 goals, 37 assists), therefore did not miss a single international match. Colossal and symbolic of his longevity at the highest level.
Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP
If he did not score against the Netherlands or Scotland in October, but added an assist (for Pavard) to his tally, Antoine Griezmann shines in the French collective (rated 7/10 over the two matches ). Don’t count on him to show off his speed, his striking power, occupy the media field or flood social networks with technical gestures, the Macon native is an old-fashioned player. Endowed with a football IQ well above most of his opponents and partners, altruistic, delightful in the heart of the game through his positioning, his inspirations and his ability to see the progress of an action before others, the international makes the Blues’ game better. Anything but trivial if Didier Deschamps has unwavering confidence in him.
Didier Deschamps and Antoine Griezmann FRANCK FIFE / AFP
The only element of the current group, with Olivier Giroud, to have experienced every international campaign since 2014, the Madrilenian is also the best passer, the 3rd best scorer, the 4th most capped in the history of the French team . Figures which confirm his weight and the mark he will leave once his career is over. To be ranked among the greatest legends of the Blues.
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