“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything, my Grizou”: France coach Didier Deschamps pays tribute to Griezmann

Didier Deschamps had launched Antoine Griezmann in the French team during a friendly in March 2014. MAXPPP – Matthieu Mirville

The coach of the French football team reacted to Antoine Griezmann's decision to end his international career, this Monday, September 30. “DD” hailed a “monument of French football”.

“It is with great emotion that I acknowledge”. The coach of the French team, Didier Deschamps, reacted to the announcement of the international retirement of Antoine Griezmann, on Monday.

“We had a long discussion about this recently. Since his debut in the French team ten years ago, he and I have had a relationship of trust and very frank relations", explained "DD", in a press release sent by the FFF.

"It has often been said that Antoine was my favourite. We had indeed established a very strong relationship, which will remain intact", notes the technician. “It is never easy to draw a line under the French Team. Especially when you have represented it so well, embodied it so well. It takes courage, lucidity and honesty and Antoine, in his analysis, did not lack any. It's all to his credit", continues the man who launched his player in March 2014, during a friendly match against the Netherlands (2-0).

"He never cheated"

"Even if his club career is not over, Antoine was and will remain a monument of French football, one of the greatest players in its history. Beyond his 44 goals and 30 assists, his involvement in the results we have obtained over the last decade is immense", says the coach.

With Griezmann, the French team reached two finals, at Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup, but above all won the 2018 World Cup in Russia. A conquest during which "Grizi" had weighed with all his weight. "Driven by a collective spirit at all times and an altruism rare among attacking players, Antoine has always honored football and the blue jersey. “He never cheated,” says Deschamps. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything, my Grizou,” he concludes.