A little more in the history of the Blues. Antoine Griezmann (33 years old) became, on Monday, the third most capped player of the French team by honoring his 137th selection against Belgium (2-0), in the Nations League. Substitute at kick-off, the attacking midfielder came into play in place of Mattéo Guendouzi in the 79th minute to conclude the match and equal the number of selections of Olivier Giroud, with whom he shares third place.
The two men are overtaken by their former partner Hugo Lloris, holder of the record for caps (145), and Lilian Thuram (142). The goalkeeper, who retired from international football after the 2022 World Cup, had doubled the defender, world champion in 1998, during the quarter-final of this World Cup against England (2-1). Antoine Griezmann is therefore getting very close to this record, which he seems capable of beating.
Selected for the first time in the French team in 2014, “Grizou” has participated in three World Cups and three Euros and has a world champion title (2018) and a Nations League to his name (2021). He also participated in the final of Euro 2016 and that of the 2022 World Cup respectively lost to Portugal (1-0, aet) and Argentina (3-3, 4 tab 2). The Atlético de Madrid player holds the record for the player having played the most consecutive matches in Bleus (84 between 2017 and 2023). He is also the joint top passer of the selection (30 with Kylian Mbappé) and fourth top scorer (44 goals) even if he has not found the back of the net for a year (against Germany, 2-1 defeat, September 12, 2023)
Didier Deschamps’ key man, Grizou had a frustrating last Euro with a hybrid and changing positioning that destabilized him a little. He even started two matches on the bench (against Poland and Spain). “My best position? For me it’s always been in the center, this feeling of freedom. I need that to feel good mentally. My game goes a lot through my head, my mind. If I’m happy, everything is fine. If I have doubts and questions, you can see it straight away. That’s what happened at the Euro. I have to be free in my head, happy and be at the heart of the game to enjoy myself and the others.”
- RMC Sport
