DUESSELDORF, Germany: Antoine Griezmann’s return to the France team proved unconvincing as they struggled to beat Belgium in the Euro 2024 last 16 but he was still delighted with their progress to the quarter-finals.
Long a mainstay of Les Bleus’ line-up, Griezmann was dropped for the last group game against Poland after several ineffective performances but recalled in an unusual role on the right side of the attack for Monday’s 1-0 win in Duesseldorf.
He was one of three attackers for the French, in a change in formation from coach Didier Deschamps, but failed to find the right combinations with Kylian Mbappe or, particularly, Marcus Thuram as France were restricted to long-range shooting in the first half.
“It was still a new system for us, you have to get used to it,” said Griezmann. “The coach came to my room. He told me where he wanted me to play. I replied: ‘Let’s go, coach, I’m here for you, I’m here for the team’. He knows where I like to play, but I will always give everything for the team, for this coach.