We could think about it for several more days and perhaps never find the answer to this 100,000 euro question: what was Didier Deschamps looking for when he decided to start Antoine Griezmann in this right wing position, this Monday against Belgium (1-0 victory)? We rack our brains, turn the problem over in all directions and look for a valid reason, at least from an offensive point of view, we can’t find one.
While the French team coach had worked in recent days on a 4-4-2 diamond formation almost tailor-made for the number 7 with a role as leader supporting the attackers, he finally surprised everyone by opting for a 4-3-3 which led the world champion to move to one side. This had not happened to him in selection since October 2021, one evening of victory against Ukraine. It was this Monday morning, while he was in his room, that “Grizou” learned the news from the voice of his coach “I told him: go coach, let’s go, I’m here for you and for the team”, he revealed after the match.
Away from the traffic, from the heart of the game, where he usually excels and where he can be influential, in normal times, Griezmann was the image of his start to the Euro: a player who has become in Germany the shadow of himself and so disappointing given his usual standards. Even if he was not helped by this strange tactical choice, it must be recognized.
But then, what role for the future?
The Atlético de Madrid striker had been stung by his coach who was ready to do without his services against Poland. A choice that he had a hard time digesting, having trouble hiding his spleen. But the response given this Monday in Düsseldorf was not up to the level of the sessions carried out earlier in the week. Exiled on his flank, we quickly felt he was disconnected from his partners in this position too far from the surface.
Often with his back to goal and not found enough, he tried to get out of this area by coming to insert himself into the axis to touch the ball, to find sensations. But like this left-footed shot totally crushed and stopped by Casteels (10th), or this opportunity screwed up at the edge of the surface (65th), his choices were too imprecise and lacked accuracy, while he is known for his technical quality. “It was very different from usual, admitted the number 7. I tried to make calls in depth, to manage the full-back. I tried to adapt because I am not a winger who is going to do one-on-one.” It was obvious…
The vice-captain tried to combine in his corridor with Jules Koundé, to play with one touch to speed up the game as he usually knows how to do so well, but there again we felt he was awkward and not in the right tone (27th). If we had to find a reason that pushed Deschamps to install him on the right, it was perhaps in his ability to come and help his full-back in order to block the very lively Jérémy Doku. Generous, he also did not do everything well, even picking up a yellow card for a late tackle on the Manchester City winger, which led to a very dangerous free kick deflected on his line by Maignan (23rd).
Totally deported on this corridor, as if alone and far from everything, Griezmann once again gave the impression of searching for his place, his bearings in this French collective. During the preparation, Didier Deschamps had admitted to still looking for the best role to entrust to his base man. After the match this Monday, the coach is no more advanced. “No matter where I am, I will give 100%,” explained the left-hander. The Griezmann case nevertheless becomes a real question mark for the future…
: Antoine Griezmann, still upside down){kind=link}