Final France – Argentina (2-2, 4 pens to 3) | Antoine Griezmann got lost at the worst time

Lionel Messi. Kylian Mbappe. Antoine Griezmann. At the start of this World Cup final, there were three who could legitimately claim the title of best player in the competition. The first two, by their statistics and the 5 goals already scored before the final fireworks – which they did not miss. The third, he had shone elsewhere, in the game, giving back to football a little more suspicious and to self-sacrifice its letters of nobility.

This reinvented Griezmann, an idea that had sprung from the brain of Didier Deschamps, had often taken the French team to Qatar, from Australia to Morocco, against whom the Atlético de Madrid player had delivered his most spectacular performance. , passing from the oven to the mill and without transition.

At the start of this World Cup final, facing the opponent who, perhaps, was the one who most resembled him, him the amateur of body combat, Antoine Griezmann lost himself in the immensity of the Lusail stadium, as surprising as it may seem. Moreover, Didier Deschamps was not stubborn since he replaced his number 7 in the 71st minute, with Kingsley Coman. The revolt came after the exit of the one who had scored against Croatia four years ago.

Offbeat, all the time

Once again aligned in this hybrid role of relay midfielder in charge of the low works but also expected in the offensive contribution, Antoine Griezmann did not help the friends much this time. We didn’t see it between the lines. He did try once or twice to force fate, like in the opener against Morocco. Symbolically, his last call for the match point, left side, will have resulted in nothing. Otherwise another return from Griezmann, head down, in his camp.

The visual impression of a player undergoing the encounter is confirmed by the statistics. Never during the World Cup, even against Tunisia, had the midfielder played so few balls. He had never been so imprecise in his transmissions (68% of successful passes). Above all, Antoine Griezmann regularly appeared out of time and, the other times, found himself very framed by the Albiceleste midfielder. In short, “Grizou” failed in large widths.

For most of the competition, the former FC Barcelona player worked for the good of the team and behaved as a luxury adjustment variable, allowing the Blues to recover much of what they had. lost with the packages of the pair Paul Pogba – N’Golo Kanté. On Sunday, Griezmann didn’t weigh in. He could not honor the “most beautiful jersey in the world”, as he describes the tunic of the France team. His regrets, too, will be eternal.