Antoine Griezmann took everyone by surprise this Monday, September 30, by announcing his choice to no longer wear the France team jersey. A decision taken after several tormented months in the Blues jersey, including a frustrating Euro and big questions about his positioning.
A page in the history of the Blues officially turned this Monday, September 30. After more than 10 years in the Rooster jersey, 137 caps, 44 goals, 30 assists and a world champion title, Antoine Griezmann (33) announced his decision to retire internationally. “It is with a heart full of memories that I close this chapter of my life. Thank you for this magnificent French adventure and see you soon,” said the Atlético de Madrid player on his X account.
This decision, announced three days before Didier Deschamps’ list for the Nations League matches against Israel (October 10) and Belgium (October 14), took everyone by surprise. But it still fits into a particular context, the former Real Sociedad coming out of a frustrating period in the France team.
>> Griezmann retires internationally: all the news and reactions after the shock announcement
A gradual downgrading to the Euro
Long described as Didier Deschamps’ darling, notably with a record 84 consecutive selections for the French team, “Grizou”, who appeared physically blunted, experienced a progressive downgrade throughout the last Euro. Starting in the first two matches (Austria and Netherlands), he was placed on the bench for the third group match against Poland (1-1). An event. Returning to the eleven in the eighth then in the quarter-final (Belgium and Portugal), he was again a substitute against Spain in the semi-final, contenting himself with coming on in the 62nd minute.
In addition to these incessant back and forths between the bench and the eleven, Griezmann was also moved around in several positions. “How did I experience the Euro? Complicated because it was a lot of position changes and tactical changes. We had to deal with it,” admitted the main person concerned at the Téléfoot microphone at the beginning of September.
“Changing positions? It wasn’t annoying because I was on the pitch. Annoying, it was against Spain and Poland, where I didn’t play,” he added. “But these are tactical choices, you have to respect them, even if you are upset, angry or sad. The team comes first. I tried to adapt, but it wasn’t my best competition.”
Griezmann, who appeared very touched on the evening of the defeat against Spain in the semi-final, made no secret of having had a very bad experience with this competition.
“After the elimination against Spain? A lot of frustration, anger, sadness. I have never felt at the heart of the game as I like”, he added on the Téléfoot microphone during the last gathering international.
Not chosen for the captain’s armband
In March 2023, the decision to entrust the captain’s armband to Kylian Mbappé to take over from Hugo Lloris after the goalkeeper’s international retirement also marked him, as revealed at the time by RMC Sport. Even if the player didn’t let anything show.
“I have had discussions, I am not going to go into details. I can assure you that Antoine, since Monday, has been very smiling,” assured the Blues coach at a press conference on the eve of the reception of the Netherlands, March 24, 2023 as part of qualifying for Euro 2024. “We celebrated his birthday. That he was disappointed at the time, it is legitimate. But it stopped there . From what I see, everyone has the same objective in relation to the group.”
Despite this long period of turmoil in the selection, Griezmann still had a word for Didier Deschamps in his farewell video. “Thank you to my coach. Your trust and support throughout my international career have been essential to my development as an athlete,” assured the now ex-French international.
