Griezmann on good show

FEW ever heard of 31-year-old Frenchman Antoine Griezmann. He always played a low-key at Qatar’s World Cup.

[{"selector":"#anim-f02712fb-59a6-424e-bd89-73b019aee60d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.874999829338595%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90fb476a-91b9-4ba7-888b-99c630994b93","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45747078-0147-4502-8bad-f667da2d149a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 166.80134%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Read More

But rightly so, he was at the centre of the praise on Wednesday night after a sensational performance in France’s 2-0 win over a brave Morocco side in their World Cup semi-final.

[{"selector":"#anim-dbf59213-c1bf-4f84-9564-3f7160a80622 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.874999829338595%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eec65efc-cc58-4fba-8c2f-bc044e715bbe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Read More

[{"selector":"#anim-5e969855-4baa-4a48-ac43-77c98e9b5891 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(10.880681580807309%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f233e6c4-505e-407f-8f5b-0cffb1fec9df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb4a2bc6-0ead-4c90-8d19-3ed948d852d5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 153.44730%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Former England legend striker Alan Shearer, who anchors the BBC coverage of the Qatar tournament, felt Griezmann was the best player on the pitch, as he explained: “he was man of the match for me”. Read More

Ironically, Griezmann has not scored a single goal at the World Cup in Qatar but has created several chances while also dropping deep and breaking up play.

[{"selector":"#anim-bac4e49d-cfd8-4c03-b754-41797b493a86 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.874999829338595%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10e8384e-9308-441b-a47a-879a75894338","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(106.26703%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fa343dd6-fae9-45aa-8aff-13ff5a2ea77b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7bd2125d-3665-4b18-bbad-577443725b15","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Read More

[{"selector":"#anim-eef399d2-31ec-4f9e-95d2-64f73e291e9a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(14.843749786673241%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2bb8b651-92b5-4656-9d3f-57d39cae4a8c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f701acd-4484-4efd-ac71-90a6c385b765","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 148.50333%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] There was also praise from former England star defender Rio Ferdinand, who called him “the best defensive player in the tournament” before adding: ‘We could show great clips of him getting forward and creating things but we can probably show you as many clips of his defending.’ Read More

[{"selector":"#anim-c3e7a26f-79e1-404b-a771-f44ec09cf9fc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(47.71726180886645%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bdf78e04-a479-4cbe-9c4f-85b38f4d51ff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee445fc9-7a95-4afd-a399-94761e567a77","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 176.73815%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] FOR SUNDAY FINAL With their star midfielder pulling strings behind an explosive front three, France will face Argentina in the final on Sunday. Read More

[{"selector":"#anim-513bbd7f-7977-4dc9-9064-3cb881678551 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fa1b6815-1b96-4643-a518-fa8517443a20","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(105.99456%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-761bb83c-55e9-4b44-a68f-ab3d921e1bac","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-534fde76-ccef-4b95-ab46-7fd7eaf3ba81","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] It may be billed as a superlative chance for Lionel Messi to confirm his status as the greatest player in history, but the game will also be a chance for the champions to become just the second side in history to win back to back World Cups. Read More

[{"selector":"#anim-9ab68fc5-c594-4523-8f1b-e791a767dc38 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.874999829338595%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3ccf297-8511-48bc-a06f-1ed60c2a1be1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-109.16905%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab2814d4-5f80-4512-8723-9744ea572785","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-191a5f9a-ff8f-461a-b566-391fdea3f52b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Griezmann, who is being deployed in a deeper role by France boss Deschamps, insisted he was impressed by Morocco after Wednesday’s game. Yet the Atletico Madrid forward is expecting a much tougher tie against Argentina on Sunday. Read More