IN PICTURES – Football: look back at eight key dates for Antoine Griezmann in the French team

World champion in 2018, European vice-champion in 2016 and winner of the Nations League in 2021, Antoine Griezmann has definitely written with his teammates some of the finest hours of the French football team. The Atletico Madrid striker surprised many observers this Monday by announcing his international retirement.

Under the mandate of Didier Deschamps, “Grizi” as his teammates nickname him, totaled 137 caps, tied with Olivier Giroud, and therefore played his last minutes with the tricolor jersey on September 9, in Lyon, against Belgium. To honor one of the best French players in history, Europe 1 looks back on eight key dates in Mâconnais with the Blues.

March 5, 2014: first successful selection in Blue

Antoine Griezmann only began his career with the French team in March 2014. Yet already on the radar of Didier Deschamps and his staff, the young Real Sociedad striker had received a one-year suspension from any national team in 2013 due to a night out with some of his playing partners with the Espoirs. It was therefore on March 5, 2014, shortly before his 23rd birthday, that he made his first selection and start, against the Netherlands. During this match won by the Blues (2-0), the left paw of the man who then wore the number 11 already struck people’s minds.

July 4, 2014: tears against Germany in the quarter-final of the World Cup

The first image of “Grizi” that struck the general public was the distress of a young player inconsolable at being beaten in the quarter-final of his first World Cup, against Germany (1-0), in 2014. The player trained at Real Sociedad scored three goals in preparation, the first against Paraguay (1-1) then a double against Jamaica (8-0). His career in blue is launched.

July 7, 2016: the double against Germany in the semi-final of the Euro in France

To enter the hearts of the supporters for good, Antoine Griezmann exorcises his sorrow by scoring a resounding double against the very opponent who had brought him to tears,

December 18, 2022: a second World Cup final

A model of altruism and versatility, Griezmann completely changed register at the Qatari World Cup by positioning himself much lower in midfield and delivered a gigantic personal performance throughout the competition. A tireless recuperator, he ensures a sharp first recovery. The quarter-final against England (2-1) best illustrates his play in November-December 2022. He enters the history of the Blues by delivering his 29th and 30th assists for Aurélien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud. Exhausted, he cannot finish

July 9, 2024: a dull Euro and a sad elimination in the semi-final

One of the last images of Grizou in Blue shows him in a tracksuit, on the bench in a semi-final lost against Spain (2-1), like a downgrade. He comes into play without being able to influence the course of things, after a failed Euro-2024 on a personal level.

He sabotaged two superb chances against the Netherlands (0-0), already took a turn on the bench against Poland (1-1) and failed to score or make an impact, tossed from one position to another by Didier Deschamps. Griezmann does not hide his bitterness, nor does he contest the coach’s choices, but his ten-year cycle seems to be coming to an end.

September 6, 2024: a final lap of honor at the Parc des Princes

Not to leave with this image, the French striker greets, alone, the four stands of the Parc des Princes in a small lap of honor despite the defeat against Italy (3-1), in September, for the first match of the Nations League season. The Madrilenian will then only play ten minutes in Lyon, against Belgium (2-0 victory for the Blues).

In the space of ten years with the Blues, Antoine Griezmann scored 44 goals, making him the fourth top scorer in the history of the France team. He will also have become the best decisive passer, just ahead of Kylian Mbappé, with 30 passes delivered to his partners which led to a goal. Finally, he holds, by far, the record for consecutive matches played in the French jersey (84). Certainly the flagship player of the Didier Deschamps era.