Griezmann becomes the best passer in the history of the Blues, which Hugo Lloris kept afloat against England this Saturday (2-1). The Blues are in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
The key man: Antoine Griezmann (7/10)
We could have chosen Hugo Lloris, decisive to hoist the Blues in the last four. To win a World Cup, you need a great goalkeeper, and yesterday France had one; to win a World Cup, you need leaders, and France has had one for a long time. Antoine Griezmann entered a little more in the history of the Blues becoming only the best passer of the selection, distancing in two strokes Thierry Henry and Zinédine Zidane. The latter, hero of the last great France – England, at Euro 2004 will undoubtedly appreciate. Antoine Griezmann is not really a number 10, no longer a number 9, not totally a number 6. He is all of these at the same time, attacking, defending, centering, striking. Yesterday again he was the guarantor of the balance of a team which knows how to suffer but which above all knows how to win.
Lloris (7/10). He found himself twice against his teammate for nine years, Harry Kane, on penalty. Did he thwart the English captain on the second (84)? Possible. The rest of the time, he was the author of decisive stops on Kane (22, 29, 62) and a big strike from Bellingham (47). At the height of the event.
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Kounde(5).We felt rather feverish at the start of the meeting. Discreet offensively, he provided the essential behind in a position that is not his. Vigilant, he is decisive in saving a hot situation on a corner after a bad reading by Lloris (48).
Varana(5).Sober, but not always reassuring. Like the rest of the rear guard, he sometimes seemed very close to being overtaken by the English assaults, whether they came from Saka or Kane. Not really sharp to get on the opposing offensive line, he provided the essentials.
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Upamecano(6).Bleeding, he was the author of several authoritarian interventions (29, 45 + 1, 90 + 1) and good ball comebacks. A hole for three minutes, where Harry Kane made him suffer, with this fake body that mystifies him (22), and where he is close to conceding a penalty (25).
Hernandez(5).In the corridor of Mbappé, he defends for two, and that does not help him. But his fault on Mount which brings the penalty is prohibitive (80) and Saka made him suffer a lot. Not biting enough on the Arsenal winger, he let him slip into the box before getting a penalty (52).
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Chuameni(6).A goal with a splendid strike to start the match (17) and an interesting defensive activity to muzzle Jude Bellingham. A few shadows on the board with sometimes a too lax attitude when France suffered (72), absences in marking (head of Maguire on post 70) and a penalty conceded (52).
Rabiot(6).Sequence view, like the France team. His start to the game is very good, with a breakthrough after an interception (15); he still plans to conclude with a not powerful enough half-volley (55). He arched his back when the English raised the cursor.
Dembele(5).A good connection with Griezmann at the start of the match especially, which notably brings the first French shot on target from Giroud on one of his centers (11). He could have scored but seemed surprised by the center of Hernandez (56).
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Giroud(6).A real number 9 performance for him: a difficult match, with few balls to negotiate. But the one who counted, he put it to the bottom, scoring his 53rd goal in blue, his fourth in this World Cup. He hadn’t put any in 2018, he is making up for it in 2022. Essential today for this team.
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