Sometimes criticized, often appreciated, but especially essential with the Blues.
Antoine Griezmann entered a little more in the history of the France team this Sunday.
He celebrated, during the victory (0-2) against Kazakhstan on the second day of qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup, his 45th selection in a row with the French team.
Reached Patrick Vieira - 44 games in a row in 1999 and 2002 - Wednesday against Ukraine (1-1), the number 7 of the Blues is now the only holder of this record.
Anything but anecdotal.
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While the coach had decided to rotate his troops in anticipation of the third meeting of the week, Wednesday in Bosnia, he nevertheless established Griezmann.
The Barcelona player was also the only outfield player to follow up the match against Ukraine and the one in Kazakhstan.
The other "survivor" was the captain and guard Hugo Lloris who celebrated his 122nd cape (
Editor's note
:
3rd in history behind the 142 of Lilian Thuram and the 123 of Thierry Henry
).
The most decisive player of the Deschamps era
This consistency with the Blues proves a little to what extent Griezmann is one of the essential cogs in the collective and the game set up by Deschamps.
Even when he was struggling and dragging his spleen with Barcelona, the 2018 world champion always had the confidence of his coach who made him debut in Blue almost 7 years ago to the day (5 March 2014).
The magnificent goal of @ AntoGriezmann against Ukraine (1-1) 💥 # FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/kXIgIfyoPc
- French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) March 26, 2021
Used in a role of playmaker and organizer, the former Atlético de Madrid player has not missed an appointment in Blue since 2017. His series began one evening in August 2017 against the Country -Bas (4-0) in a knockout match for the 2018 World Cup. He is also the most decisive player of the Didier Deschamps era, being involved on 55 goals (34 goals, 21 assists).
Author of the only goal of the match against Ukraine on Wednesday, a strike from the left in the top corner, "Grizou" took the opportunity to equal David Trezeguet in the number of goals scored with the France team, thus becoming the fourth top scorer in the history of the Blues at just 30 years old.
