Antoine Griezmann has been declared unfit to participate in France’s upcoming friendly matches against Germany and Chile due to an ankle sprain, thus marking the end of his remarkable streak of appearing in 84 consecutive games for Les Bleus. The absence of the Atletico Madrid star from the French squad will be notable, representing his first exclusion since November 2016, as France prepares for their final friendlies ahead of the Euro 2024 tournament scheduled from June 14 to July 14.
Griezmann’s consistent presence on the field for France has been notable, with his uninterrupted participation dating back to a friendly encounter against England in June 2017, albeit as an unused substitute.
In place of the seasoned 127-cap Griezmann, who has contributed 44 goals to the French national team, Matteo Guendouzi from Lazio has been summoned for the first time since the conclusion of the last World Cup.
Although Coach Didier Deschamps has previously emphasized Griezmann’s significance within the French team setup, labeling him as “essential” albeit not “irreplaceable,” he has concurred with the advice of the team doctor as communicated by the French football federation.
Despite Griezmann’s recent return to action for Atletico Madrid, where he played in a Champions League match against Inter Milan and featured in a La Liga fixture against Barcelona, his ankle issue persists, as noted by Deschamps.
Guendouzi, who has seven appearances for France to his name, with one goal scored, last featured in the team during the final group match of the Qatar World Cup, ending in a 1-0 loss to Tunisia.
Deschamps acknowledged the unique qualities Griezmann brings to the team, expressing the challenge of finding a replacement with comparable characteristics.