Antique Football – The French Forward
Known as “The Frenchman” thanks to his French Canadian wife, Antoine Griezmann was born in Marseilles, France. He is a football coach in his native country, having previously been a player for FC Barcelona. Antoine Griezmann’s career has spanned four decades, which is an impressive length of time for a career in football. Here’s a look at some of his accomplishments.
International Goals scored: Griezmann has scored five international goals, which ties him with goalkeeper Michel Vorm along with Spain’s David Beckham. The most recent of these was a hat trick in the win over Mexico in March 2021. Prior to this, Griezmann had notched only three goals in international competition. One of those was a penalty kick in the bronze game against South Korea. If there’s any reason to be worried about the Americans possibly losing to Mexico in their upcoming World Cup qualification, then this goal by Griezmann should put you to rest.
International Titles: The FC Barcelona forward has played in four different World Cups, all of which have come during the reign of Pep Guardiola. Most notably, he was a part of the Spain team that won the tournament in Germany in 1996. During his time with the Seville side, Griezmann helped them to the quarter finals where they eventually lost to eventual winners Brazil. After that he joined AC Milan and then PSG, where he has done even better. Finally, he played in England for Villa as they qualified for the 2021 World Cup. Griezmann has scored in each of those tournaments, giving him qualification for the Hall of Fame.
Club Career – At the age of 34, Griezmann has already achieved a great deal in terms of club career, not just in Argentina, but in France as well. While he spent some time playing on the wing for Racing, he made a name for himself at the center of the park. After two years in Ligue 1 with Racing, Griezmann joined PSG and has been one of their most successful players ever since. Paris Saint-Germain and Spain are the only teams to have beaten PSG in the Champions League, and he currently holds the MLS record for most goals scored in a season with 60. If you’re a goalscorer in the world of football then Griezmann should certainly be in your side.
International Goals – Despite the fact that he has spent some time playing at the heart of the hearts of AC Milan, Griezmann has yet to score over internationally. He has, however, assisted many goals, helping his country to lift the World Cup trophy in 2021. It would certainly be a great shame if Griezmann missed out on this major occasion because he failed to get a visa to play for his country. Even so, given his age, and the age of most of the French team, it would be foolish to consider retirement any time soon.
Club History – Antieu Guellini is part of a rejuvenated PSG team that also features David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Mario Balotelli. This has been an exciting development in the French club scene, as previously established stars have left in search of more attractive footballing prospects. The arrival of Guellini has done little to change this situation, with the exception of the arrival of a more experienced coach in Laurent Blanc. It is fair to say that the club is in transition, and do need time to settle down into their new identity as a genuinely top club. As long as they are able to retain some core players, however, they should continue to compete at the very top of the French game for some time to come.
On the Other Hand – There is little doubt that Griezmann can become a very good player when given a chance, but he is not the type of player that automatically creates scoring opportunities. He has often been guilty of trying to make too many passes in difficult situations, and his often high passing rates don’t really help his team’s too much. This does not mean that he is a bad player, just that he probably does not fit into the mold of French attacking players. The balance of his game, where creativity and intelligence are important, is where he will likely thrive – as long as he is playing in the right team. When compared to the other attacking players at PSG, it seems that Griezmann does not necessarily possess the same kind of flair that makes a difference.
At International level, Griezmann has shown some fantastic talent, but it is fair to say that he is a product of his era, and does not rate well outside of France. Perhaps his best days lie in Germany, where he has enjoyed considerable success since moving from PSG. Regardless, his performances for his national side have not been anything special, despite making plenty of appearances, and do not look like they will motivate France to win the world cup in the years to come. Perhaps his lack of international experience pushes his team mates even further away from him, which is perhaps his biggest shortcoming – no matter what position he plays, a lack of club football means little to a player. So will Antique Football be able to save the PSG season, or will they only find out in the end that Griezmann was just another passing star?
