Mental peace can help one soar. In September, Antoine Griezmann was playing for just 30 minutes for Atletico Madrid. That’s because in 2021, when Barcelona, neck-deep in debt, struck a deal with Atletico Madrid to send Griezmann on loan.
The fine line was if Griezmann played more than 45 minutes in more than 50 per cent of the games, then Atletico would be contractually bound to pay the Catalan club €40 million to sign him permanently. In the first season, he played more than 80 per cent of the game time and this season if he clocks a similar time, then Atletico would have to shell out that money. So they came up with a bizarre idea.
Griezmann was coming on after 60 minutes, playing just the last two quarters. He did not complain but it was affecting his form, as well as his club’s fortunes.
“He’ll be less tired,” France national team coach Didier Deschamps had said then with a laugh. On a serious note, he had added: “It’s clear that this limits his playing time.”
Atletico, meanwhile, decided enough is enough and decided to sign a permanent deal with Barcelona. That was in the second week of October. It suited everyone, the two clubs, the player and of course Deschamps. Griezmann, free of the contractual shackles, was starting to regain his old self.
Atletico may have failed to keep their place in Europe — they were out of the Champions League and could not earn even a Europa playoff berth — but Griezmann did not disappoint.
France were coming to Qatar blighted by injuries and with all the focus, justifiably also, on Kylian Mbappe. Griezmann happily made way for the 23-year-old and enjoyed from the periphery.
On the field, he is driving the motor behind the front three of Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud and Mbappe. He has not scored a goal yet — a last-minute strike against Tunisia was ruled not legitimate by VAR — but that is redundant. He is the brain behind all the good things France are doing right now. Griezmann’s presence is a huge confidence boost to the midfielders Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni. He is tracking back whenever the rivals have the ball and building moves for the frontliners — Griezmann is everywhere in Qatar.
Tracking back is something he learnt during his first stint with Atletico Madrid where a demanding manager Diego Simeone improved his defensive qualities. Even during his Barca days, where he was not allowed to bloom, Griezmann would be seen running back and making tackles to regain possession.
With two inspirational midfielders N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba ruled out for Qatar, Deschamps needed Griezmann to be the player who would do incredible things at the centre of the park.
“I had chances to score against Denmark but I missed. Maybe I’m not as close to the box as I used to be. The best thing is that I’m playing good games,” Griezmann said during an interaction with the French media at the mixed zone on Sunday.
“I’m still missing a goal but I don’t shoot 50 times a game and I’m not obsessing about it. The team needs me in midfield to make the link between the defence and the attack. I’m very proud and happy.”
He has sacrificed his goal-scoring abilities, Griezmann has netted 42 times for the national team and in the 2018 World Cup final against Croatia, for the team which needed him to engine of the machine.
Till now Griezmann has not let down his coach. Against Poland on Sunday, Griezmann covered more than 11km in distance and he had a role in the first goal which made Giroud France’s all-time highest scorer. The move started from him and then the ball went to Mbappe who had slipped it for Giroud.
“I owe him (Deschamps) everything. So when I play I play for France, my teammates and also for the coach.”
Against England on Saturday, Griezmann will have a battle with a much younger and immensely talented Jude Bellingham. That is one of the sub-plots of this mouth-watering quarter-final clash.
