Didier Deschamps may often be in the secret of the gods, but the announcement of Antoine Griezmann’s international retirement took him by surprise. He just found out the news over the phone from his player, a few minutes before it became official. Three days later, “Grizou” has still not explained the reasons for this surprising choice. But the coach of the French soccer team revealed some fragments on Thursday, October 3, along with the announcement of his squad list to play the next two matches for the ‘bleus’.
“So, what can I tell you about “Grizou”, my favorite? » Didier Deschamps quickly found the words and spoke for more than six minutes, without interruption. A simple answer turned into a speech, during which he revealed a kind of emotion when remembering the exploits of the Griezmann monument (137 international matches, 44 goals, 30 assists).
“It is not a thought process on a whim, it is a mature and mature decision”assured the Basque coach, who mentioned “physical fatigue”but also “psychological, which we don’t talk about enough”. At 33 years old, the man who still plays games for Atlético de Madrid had studied the issue and wanted to return to focusing on his family and three children. “It has come full circle”confirmed Didier Deschamps.
Thanks to a failed Euro 2024 and a semi-final against Spain that started on the bench, Antoine Griezmann understood that he was no longer as essential as in the past with the ‘bleus’. But according to the coach, the evolution of his status, such as during the episode of the captain’s armband (the player had been disappointed to see him return to Kylian Mbappé at the beginning of 2023), has not weighed on the choice of the now former. -French international.
New captains will emerge
“This decision goes beyond what happened. It was not a trigger. It has to be understood over a long period, which began in 2014. [année de la première sélection d’Antoine Griezmann]with everything that followed after »explained Didier Deschamps, who took advantage of this turn to speak to “Thank you for everything you could do and contribute to the French team” : “He is a very good example for young people to follow because he did not have a linear or fluid path. On a human level he is a very endearing person. (…) There you have it, a page is turning. »
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