Antoine Griezmann withdraws from the Blues: a record series ends for the French striker

Antoine Griezmann a passé des examens à Clairefontaine ce lundi 18 janvier. EPA – CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Antoine Griezmann est forfait pour les matches de l’équipe de France contre l’Allemagne et le Chili en raison d’une entorse à la cheville droite et a été remplacé dans le groupe par Mattéo Guendouzi, a annoncé ce lundi 18 mars l’encadrement des Bleus.

The "Grizou" record series of consecutive matches with the Blues therefore stops at 84. The Atlético de Madrid star missed four matches before returning last week for qualification for the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the expense of the Blues. Inter Milan (0-1/2-1 3 tabs to 2), scoring a goal. He also came on at half-time in the defeat against Barcelona (3-0) on Sunday evening.

Guendouzi called

"Antoine has a problem with his ankle, which reacted even though he played 45 minutes last night", Deschamps said. Griezmann (127 caps, 44 goals), "not irreplaceable but essential" according to the breeder's formula, is numerically replaced by Mattéo Guendouzi. The Lazio Rome player has not been called up since the World Cup. The last of his 7 selections (1 goal) dates back to the final group match in Qatar, lost against Tunisia (1-0).

Après 84 matchs d’affilée en Équipe de France, le record de longévité d’Antoine Griezmann s’arrête là…

Blessé à la cheville, Grizi est remplacé par Matteo Guendouzi.

Bon rétablissement Antoine 💙 pic.twitter.com/mdarOAljm2

— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) March 18, 2024

"With the qualities of Antoine in his register, we are not going to find a player who has his characteristics", Deschamps had explained before the announcement of Griezmann's package. "A replacement position for position is very, very, very difficult to find. We will arrange it differently", he said.