France midfielder Antoine Griezmann introduced his retirement from worldwide soccer on Monday, closing a outstanding chapter through which he served as coach Didier Deschamps’s linchpin for a decade, culminating in a World Cup title.
The 33-year-old, who confronted challenges throughout this 12 months’s Euros, performed a pivotal position in Les Bleus’ 2018 and 2022 World Cup campaigns, serving to France clinch the championship in Russia and safe a runner-up end in Qatar.
“Today, it is with deep emotion that I’m announcing my retirement as a player for the France team,” the Atletico Madrid participant mentioned on social media.
“After 10 incredible years marked by challenges, successes, and unforgettable moments, it is time for me to turn a page and make way for the new generation. Wearing this jersey was an honor and a privilege.”
‘Grizou,’ a favourite amongst his teammates and followers, was additionally the highest scorer at Euro 2016 when France reached the ultimate, solely to be crushed by Portugal after further time on the Stade de France.
Griezmann gained 137 caps for France, scoring 44 objectives, and established himself as a flexible participant in Deschamps’s midfield. Even although the captain’s armband went to Kylian Mbappe after Hugo Lloris’s worldwide retirement, he remained a voice everybody listened to.
He performed a French document of 84 consecutive matches with Les Bleus, a quantity that underscores his standing because the nationwide group’s most beneficial participant within the final 10 years. “We’ve had a long discussion about (his retirement) recently. Since his debut with the France team 10 years ago, we’ve had a relationship based on trust and frankness,” Deschamps mentioned in an announcement.
“Even if his club career is not over, Antoine will remain a monument of French football, one of the greatest players in its history. It was often said that he was my favorite. We indeed built a very strong relationship that will remain intact. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything, Grizou.”
A person who was all the time grateful for a typically thankless position, Griezmann is the second prime participant to retire from worldwide soccer after Olivier Giroud, the group’s all-time prime scorer, hung up his France boots after the 2-1 defeat by Spain on this 12 months’s Euro semifinals. Griezmann, who additionally helped France win the 2021 Nations League, is the group’s fourth all-time objective scorer.
He has made greater than 500 appearances in La Liga with Real Sociedad, Atletico, and Barcelona.
This season, he has scored three objectives in 9 video games in all competitions for Atletico.
Source: www.dailysabah.com