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Tag: Antoine Griezmann

  • Griezmann questions France tactics after Ukraine draw

    Griezmann questions France tactics after Ukraine draw

    Antoine Griezmann has questioned France’s tactics after Les Bleus were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Ukraine in 2022 World Cup qualifying on Wednesday.

    France head coach Didier Deschamps opted for a 4-4-2 shape rather than his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, and France struggled to adjust to the change.

    Griezmann opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a curled effort but France were unable to find a killer second goal. Les Bleus were punished in the second half, as Presnel Kimpembe’s own goal gave Ukraine a point in both teams’ qualifying opener.

    Speaking to TF1, Griezmann said: “We needed maybe more offensive players who are able to go one-v-one on the sidelines. We will learn to play in a system like that and try to start winning again. We wanted to win but we didn’t play a great game. We’re going to look at it all and try to improve.”

    Deschamps said: “We should have secured the win in the first half, we had the opportunities. It was more difficult in the second half.

    “The goal that we conceded was avoidable, we pushed to the end. We are obviously disappointed, it would have been ideal to win.

    “The result proves that Ukraine is a good team. We lacked energy in the second half. We can do better. It is not necessarily a match where we were going to create a lot of chances. We needed more precision and movement.”

    Goal

  • Rakitic speaks on Messi, Griezmann rift

    Rakitic speaks on Messi, Griezmann rift

    Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has denied that there’s a rift between star player Lionel Messi and French forward Antoine Griezmann.

    Griezmann signed for the Catalan giants in the summer of 2019 from Atletico Madrid, but has struggled to properly integrate himself into the Barca starting XI. It’s been reported that Messi and Griezmann don’t see eye-to-eye.

    However, former Blaugrana midfielder Rakitic has denied this, stating that the pair do indeed get along.

    “What I saw was that they got along very well. I got along wonderfully with Antoine and Leo,” Rakitic told Spanish outlet El Pelotazo. “The two drinks mate together and spend a lot of time together in the dressing room.”

    “If both of them start to score goals, there will be no more talk – that’s the requirement and expectation of a great team like Barcelona. I don’t worry, though, because they’re two spectacular guys. I wish them all the best.”

    Arsene Wenger has previously claimed that Griezmann isn’t being utilised in his correct position, due to the presence of Messi.

    Barcelona paid £107m (€120m) for the French star’s services two summers ago. He has scored 17 times in 57 games in all competitions.

  • La Liga: I won’t apologise to Griezmann – Setien

    La Liga: I won’t apologise to Griezmann – Setien

    Barcelona coach Quique Setien defended his decision not to play Antoine Griezmann until injury-time for Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid.

    Griezmann was facing his former club, but wasn’t seen until the 91st minute.

    Setien stated afterwards, “I see him well, but it is necessary to decide, perhaps it was not logical to put him on, but worse was not to do it. I did not do it before because those who were on were doing well, Riqui, Messi, Suárez. Finding a place is not easy without destabilising the team.

    “I do not entirely agree (that it was humiliating). Putting him on with so little time is hard for a player of his level. I’ll talk to him tomorrow. I’m not going to apologise, but I fully understand that he may feel bad.”

    On the result, Setien added: “It’s a shame, we have it more and more complicated. We move away from the title but we have to keep working. Atlético have been a good team.”

    Meanwhile, Atletico coach Diego Simeone was asked about Griezmann’s treatment.

    “I’m speechless,” he replied. “I have no words.”

  • Barca president makes Griezmann transfer decision

    Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu will not consider transfer-listing Antoine Griezmann.

    However, AS says Bartomeu is unhappy with the impact of Griezmann this season, convinced Barca should be seeing more from their €120m signing from Atletico Madrid.

    Griezmann has scored eight goals so far this season and struggled to find a connection with Barca captain Lionel Messi in their attack.

    Bartomeu is frustrated, but isn’t ready to cut loose the France attacker this summer.

    The president is hopeful of Griezmann being stronger after using a first season to settle into the demands of the Nou Camp.

  • Barca to sell Griezmann for €100m

    Barcelona are ready to sell Antoine Griezmann, less than one year after signing him from Atletico Madrid, according to Sport.

    The La Liga champions could accept a bid of €100 million (£92m) for the France forward.

    Barca chiefs feel Griezmann is not a crucial addition to the squad.

    Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are possible destinations for Griezmann, who has 14 goals and four assists to his name this season.

    It is believed that the Catalans are trying to raise funds to make a move for Neymar again.

    The Paris Saint-Germain forward has turned down the offer of a new deal and wants to return to the Camp Nou.

  • La Liga: Barca fined over Griezmann approach

    Barcelona have been fined only 300 euros (£265) by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for their approach to Antoine Griezmann while he was at La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid.

    Spanish champions Barcelona signed Griezmann after paying his 120m-euro (£107m) buyout clause on 1 July.

    But the federation said Barca broke its rules by negotiating with Griezmann without Atletico’s permission.

    Atletico believed his buyout clause should have been 200m euros (£179m).

    They claimed that Barca began talking to the player in March, when that was the size of his buyout clause.

    His cost then dropped to 120m euros at the start of July, which was when he signed for Barca, but Atletico claimed the “commitment of the player and Barcelona was closed” prior to the clause reducing.

    The player was absolved of any responsibility by the federation.

    The RFEF’s statement read: “Taking into account the economic capacity of the club and the amount of the fine, this committee is aware that the payment of 300 euros, beyond its merely symbolic character, will not damage the sanctioned club and, probably, will not persuade other clubs in the same situation in the future to adjust their conduct to the regulations.”

    However, the RFEF determined that was “not a sufficient reason” to impose a one-match closure of the Nou Camp – its only other possible sanction – which it says is reserved for “infractions of a different nature”.

    Griezmann – who had announced in May he would leave the Madrid side – signed a five-year deal with Barca, which includes an 800m euro (£717m) release clause, to become the world’s sixth most expensive signing.

    Following the move, Atletico released a statement in which they expressed their “strongest repulsion for the behaviour of both, especially Barcelona”.

    The Madrid club previously reported Barcelona to Fifa over an alleged illegal approach for Griezmann in December 2017.

  • Barcelona complete €120m Griezmann signing

    Barcelona have officially announced the signing of Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid, with the French forward putting pen to paper after the Blaugrana paid his full €120 million (£107m/$134m) release clause.
    The move has not been without drama, however, as Atleti recently hit out at both Barca and Griezmann himself for their conduct after it was revealed that the two parties had been in negotiations and reached an agreement in March, a time during which Diego Simeone’s side were still fighting for La Liga and the Champions League.
    Indeed, Atletico were only informed by the World Cup winner in May that he wanted to leave at the end of the season, further frustrating the Spanish capital side after delaying making public his intention to stay in a televised announcement the season before.
    With the deal now completed, however, Griezmann will now link up with Lionel Messi and Co. as the Spanish champions aim to retain their Liga title.
    Goal

  • Man Utd make last-minute £95m Griezmann move

    Manchester United will attempt to hijack Antoine Griezmann’s long-awaited transfer to Barcelona, according to The Sun.

    The Reds hope to take advantage of Barca’s delaying in making the move official with their own approach, which could total more than £95 million ($120m).

    PSG are also watching intently at the lack of activity around the Atletico Madrid favourite.

    Early last month, Griezmann informed Atletico that he will deposit his €120m release clause in July.

    The player’s release clause is currently €200million, after he signed a new contract with Atletico just last summer.

  • Griezmann strikes for fifth game in a row to give Atletico narrow win

    Griezmann strikes for fifth game in a row to give Atletico narrow win

    Antoine Griezmann proved to be Atletico Madrid’s decisive figure yet again as the Frenchman struck the only goal in a 1-0 win at home to Levante on Sunday.

    The victory kept Diego Simeone’s side in touch with La Liga leaders Barcelona.

    Griezmann smashed home from the penalty spot in the 57th minute to score for the fifth consecutive game in all competitions after Levante midfielder Nikola Vukcevic was penalised for handball in the area.

    Levante, who were perhaps feeling the effects of beating Barcelona 2-1 on Thursday the Copa del Rey, produced a scrappy display.

    But they had one chance to level when Jose Luis Morales was played in. However, the forward’s shot bounced off the chest of Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

    Atletico dominated the first half without creating too many chances and thought they had taken the lead when Koke netted in the 10th minute.

    However, the goal was disallowed for a foul by midfielder Rodri after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

    Simeone was forced to field usual right back Juanfran on the left of defence due to personnel shortages.

    Unfortunately, the Argentine coach suffered yet another injury setback in defence when centre back Stefan Savic had to be substituted early in the game.

    The win took second-placed Atletico on to 38 points after 19 games, two points behind pace setters Barcelona who host Eibar later on Sunday.

    Despite the narrow scoreline, Simeone said he thought his side had played well and explained why he rushed on to the pitch to embrace his players when the fulltime whistle came.

    “It was one of our best displays this season, along with (the 2-0 win over) Borussia Dortmund. We always were looking to take the game to our opponents and kept pressing high.

    “We had to overcome the ruled out goal and Savic’s injury and we reset ourselves, against a very good team,” Simeone said.

    “When players give their lives on the pitch like they did today it makes me emotional.

    “Today was a day to give everyone a hug because they all made a huge effort.”

    Reuters/NAN

  • Diego Simeone hopes to keep Griezmann at Atletico Madrid

    Diego Simeone hopes to keep Griezmann at Atletico Madrid

    Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is hopeful a strong finish to the season will convince Antoine Griezmann to stay at the club.

    Manchester United were interested in signing the French international last summer, while Barcelona have emerged as favourites to sign him at the end of this season, when his buy-out clause drops from €200m (£177.79m) to €100m (£88.9m).

    Atletico currently trail Barcelona by 12 points in the race for the La Liga title, though they have a game in hand against Real Sociedad on Thursday.

    Simeone’s side are also in the Europa League semi-finals, where they will face Arsenal in the first of two legs on April 26, and the Argentine hopes Griezmann can yet be persuaded that his future ambitions can be realised at the Wanda Metropolitano.

    The Argentine said: “I hope that he can see in our training sessions that this is a team who will keep growing and continue to improve, the best thing for a player is to see he is growing alongside the team.

    “So, if we end this season fighting for La Liga until the end of the season with Barcelona and get into the Europa League final, it will be a strong season for us.

    “That will count in his decision, for sure. We have to give him our all as a team and give him the motivation he needs so that when it’s time for a decision, he opts to stay with us.”

    Griezmann, 27, has scored 19 goals and added eight assists in 28 La Liga appearances this season.

    Sky Sports