Antoine Griezmann

It is easy to take him for granted, but Griezmann's value to France is best defined by the multitude of functions he fulfils.

With Griezmann in this richest of veins, he is inclined to believe that anything is possible. “I am quite free in this new role, being the link between the defence and the forwards,” he explained. On this score, he has little reason to worry. If value can be measured in versatility, Griezmann has a powerful claim to be recognised as the player of this World Cup. He will certainly score fewer goals, but he loves to tackle and recover the ball. Where once he would dwell on the wing, or just behind the striker in the No 10 role, here he has papered over the injuries to Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante by roaming everywhere Deschamps demands. There is no ego about his play, a fact that can be difficult to reconcile with the man who once played Barcelona and Atletico Madrid off against each other in a tacky reality TV documentary. He has everything to play deeper: the vision, the work-rate, the touch, the energy, the intelligence.” “There is no sacrifice on his part, because he is so giving that he takes pleasure when he touches the ball and when he passes. Trust Griezmann to prise open the most obdurate defence in the tournament. Couple this with his devilish free-kick deliveries, which should twice have connected with a French head before Kolo Muani applied the coup de grace, and you understand why he is this side’s most complete talent. This was his 73rd consecutive match for his country, a streak that no compatriot has come close to emulating.

Antoine Griezmann was at the centre of the BBC pundits' praise on Wednesday night after a sensational performance in France's 2-0 win over a brave Morocco ...

When you think of the players they've got missing, him and Aurelien Tchouameni were fantastic on the defensive work.' Rio Ferdinand labelled the midfielder 'the best defensive player in the tournament' You've got to give credit to the way Didier Deschamps has used him.

AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Darting runs. Key tackles. Timely interceptions. Calming passes. Antoine Griezmann did it all for France on Wednesday, ...

The French followed that with the World Cup title in 2018, and they’ll get a chance to win a third in their history on Sunday against Argentina at Lusail Stadium. The spine of this team — goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, center back Raphaël Varane, Griezmann and striker Olivier Giroud — has been a constant presence. When Morocco put France under severe pressure in the second half, Griezmann responded with tackles, headers and blocks. Pogba and N’Golo Kante, a relentless ball recovery specialist, were the midfield heart of France’s last title-winning team and their absences in Qatar because of injury put more responsibility on the 31-year-old Griezmann. And he will now try to deny Lionel Messi, his former teammate at Barcelona, of a first World Cup title on Sunday. Theo Hernández was the eventual beneficiary in the fifth minute.

France beat Morocco 2-0 to set up World Cup final showdown with Lionel Messis Argentina on Sunday; Antoine Griezmann continues to flourish in new-look ...

In his post-match press conference tonight, Deschamps was asked: "There's a report today that Benzema could come back to Qatar. Whoever manages to do that will win the match." On Sunday's World Cup final, Deschamps continued: "Lionel Messi has been in scintillating form at the beginning of the tournament. It will be up to key players to make a difference, and maybe the team that makes fewer mistakes will win the game. "We saw a very strong Argentina team against Croatia but in previous matches they haven't always been as strong. They are so calm, so composed and they know what they have to do. Mbappe and Lionel Messi will understandably dominate the build-up to Sunday's World Cup final. Morocco had beaten Belgium, Spain and Portugal in a series of gutsy performances en route to the last four. We know they are going to have a lot of support from the crowd. In an apparent move of desperation, the world champions turned to Griezmann to fill the chasm vacated by two stars of their triumph in Russia four years prior. "Of course, there isn't only Messi, they have a strong side around him, so we know it's going to be a tough game. "Any team with Messi in is a totally different proposition," Griezmann told his post-match press conference.

Antoine Griezmann never lets France down and has been spearheading their pursuit of back-to-back World Cup titles.The Atletico Madrid man put in an ex.

“We often lack rhythm in our game; there’s not a lot of intensity. I sincerely think that the France team would not be the same without him. He always has the right tone, the right pass. Now France seem to be doing okay without them. [live on talkSPORT](https://talksport.com/football/1277022/argentina-vs-france-live-commentary-stream-world-cup-final-kick-off-time-team-news-messi-mbappe/). [beat Morocco 2-0](https://talksport.com/football/1277664/france-argentina-world-cup-final-win-morocco/) to book their place in the final.

That blue wave just keeps on breaking. For the second time in five days at Al Bayt Stadium, France won a high‑stakes World Cup knockout game without at any ...

He made four crosses, was fouled four times, was playing as a defensive midfielder by the time Randal Kolo Muani added a second goal. This was a horrible little pocket, the kind of space that causes klaxons, panic, smoke. You need a footballer with the right creative intelligence to make this work. With this in mind it seemed fitting that Griezmann played here like a blend of Lothar Matthäus, Andreas Brehme and even Jürgen Kohler, appearing repeatedly in the French penalty area to clear the ball as Morocco pressed hard. Maybe it is the novelty of his own new midfield role, the way he has taken to it with such hunger. And on the role of Antoine Griezmann, who was once again decisive, spiky, hyper‑involved, always reading, nibbling away at every little part of the game around him, a high‑grade footballing hamster.

Antoine Griezmann's display against Morocco was one of the best of the tournament as the Atletico Madrid man contributed in attack as well as performed his ...

The French followed that with the World Cup title in 2018, and they’ll get a chance to win a third in their history on Sunday against Argentina at Lusail Stadium. The spine of this team — goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, center back Raphaël Varane, Griezmann and striker Olivier Giroud — has been a constant presence. When Morocco put France under severe pressure in the second half, Griezmann responded with tackles, headers and blocks. And he will now try to deny Lionel Messi, his former teammate at Barcelona, of a first World Cup title on Sunday. Theo Hernández was the eventual beneficiary in the fifth minute. “Griezmannkante,” wrote Paul Pogba admiringly on his Instagram account after the final whistle.

Griezmann has enjoyed a renaissance out in Qatar this winter, playing a crucial part in France's run to a second successive World Cup final while operating ...

When you think of the players they've got missing, him and Aurelien Tchouameni were fantastic on the defensive work.' It has been a remarkable reinvention for Griezmann in Qatar, and injured midfielder Pogba believes he is emulating their France team-mate Kante. Paul Pogba has compared France team-mates Antoine Griezmann (L) and N'Golo Kante (R) Griezmann has enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance out in Qatar this winter, playing a crucial part in France's run to a second successive World Cup final - [Antoine Griezmann](/sport/antoine-griezmann/index.html) to N'Golo Kante after the reinvented France midfielder covered every blade of glass in their [World Cup semi-final win over Morocco](/sport/live/article-11528845/France-vs-Morocco-World-Cup-2022-Live-Result.html). Paul Pogba compares Antoine Griezmann to N'Golo Kante following his France team-mate's stunning reinvention as a box-to-box midfielder at the World Cup...