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France team: with the Blues, Griezmann takes on the role of federator

2021-06-25T09:41:58.131Z


The day after the Blues' draw in Hungary (1-1), the French striker used tact to address his coach and his teammates for


Aware that the slightest spark, like the Giroud-Mbappé episode, could start a huge fire, Antoine Griezmann chose to blow a breeze of freshness on the embers of the draw of the Blues conceded in Hungary (1-1) on Saturday after- midday. Quite naturally, as is almost always the case with a man described by many as an altruist with a less developed ego than with other players of his caliber. Present at a press conference for the first time since the start of the Euro 2021 adventure, the FC Barcelona striker distilled positive messages to the entire France group, from staff to players.

The first hot topic: the attack.

The one he forms with Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema, a trio with immense unfulfilled promises so far.

The lack of goals for his two friends?

“Kyks and Karim have the chances.

As soon as it comes in, it will be fine.

We must remain patient and confident, ”said the number 7 of the Blues.

Doubt for Benzema?

"Like Kylian, like me, you need to score to let go, to free yourself."

He helps us a lot in the offensive relationship.

When the faucet is open, it will flow.

He has the support of the staff, the players ”.

The annoyance of each other seen on the lawn of the Puskas Arena goes straight to oblivion.

VIDEO.

Antoine Griezmann: "We are disappointed, even a little nervous"

This long press conference of about twenty questions made it possible to discuss many themes.

Like his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo ("Always dominant") or his Portuguese origins before the third match against the Selecçao ("My mother will be present, it's a great moment for her").

But she gave Griezmann a perfect platform to calm things down, including over his performance on Saturday.

“I didn't like my first period,” he said.

I have to make more contact with the ball.

It could help me and help the team to play better.

I know it was not my best game ”.

Read alsoHungary - France (1-1): Real's Benzema is long overdue

From there to reject everything on its positioning, to the right of the attack, desired by Didier Deschamps? Absolutely not. “The coach has won everything as a player and coach, recalls Griezmann. I am at the service of the collective. As long as I'm in the field, everything is fine with me. We talked about it. He thinks it's better for everyone to play like that, 4-3-3 with the freedom to play in the center from the right. It's up to me to find the spaces, to move and to hurt the opponent. I have no worries about that ”. And even when the subject of the penalty taker returns to the table, the native of Mâcon cheek grouped, smiling: “We are staring but for me there is no fear. I am open! If someone takes it, smells it, and marks it, so much the better. "

Like a good captain, which he is not (yet) in Blue, Griezmann also defends his teammates like Pavard (“We are proud to have him”), Pogba or Giroud, despite his downgrading to the attackers: “ He still has the banana, the smile. He gives everything. It is not easy for him. It's great what he's doing for the band. Finally, Griezmann kindly wondered why no question about the Prix de Diane had been asked. Four hours later, his filly finished last in the prestigious Chantilly race (Oise). Not enough to take his smile off his arrival at the day's training in Budapest.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2021-06-25

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