ANTOINE GRIEZMANN has hit back at France’s critics after they scraped into the quarter-finals.
Les Bleus are into the last eight without scoring a goal from open play after Jan Vertonghen’s 85th minute own goal in Dusseldorf was enough to end Belgium’s tournament.
As has been the case in each of their four games in Germany, France wasted a host of chances and looked stodgy going forwards before finding a way.
When it was put to Griezmann that they should have scored more – the Atletico Madrid man’s reply was blunt and he revealed the mentality Didier Deschamps has hammered into his squad.
Griezmann snapped: “Don’t p*** us off about a small score or something, we’re in the quarters.
“Big game defensively for the team. Without a great defence, you can’t go far.
“It was another new system for us, we have to get used to it.”
Griezmann, 33, is Deschamps‘ utility man, having already played in three different positions at this tournament.
Things were mixed up once more against Belgium, with the France veteran moved out to the right, hardly his favourite role but one he is happy to play as the French boss looks to work out their problems up top.
Griezmann added: “I learned in the morning. I’m at the service of the coach and the team. The coach told me to play here, I play here.
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“No matter where I play, I’m going to give my all.
“He knows where I like to play, but I’m always going to give everything for the team. This coach has confidence in me and I try to give it back to him.”
While Griezmann is making the case for Deschamps’ approach – there is an acceptance in the camp that things must improve going forwards.
Aurelien Tchouameni had four attempts at goal with just one hitting the target and Deschamps criticised his side for taking pot-shots post match.
The Real Madrid midfielder said: “You are right to point out our lack of efficiency, that is what we have been missing since the start of the competition.
“Afterwards we win the matches, but if we want to make matches easier in some way we will have to be more surgical in front of goal.
“It goes through me, it goes through all the players who have more opportunities. We’re going to work on that over the next few days.”
There may be more changes up top after Marcus Thuram, who was dropped for the group game against Poland but restored in Dusseldorf, struggled to lead the line once again.
But Deschamps also has a headache in midfield after Adrien Rabiot, who has excelled alongside N’Golo Kante, picked up his second booking of the tournament.
Rabiot will now sit out the quarter-final against Portugal, and was left in a rage about the decision.
He said: “I’m disgusted to have taken this yellow.
“I find that the refereeing at the start of the match was a little limited.
“But I have confidence in the guys on the bench, I will be behind them.”
But France are not short of candidates to replace the midfielder.
Eduardo Camavinga is at the front of the queue, the Real Madrid star has expressed his frustration at not getting more game time so far at the tournament.
Camavinga has insisted he is ready to be patient but is desperate for a chance and now he may just get one in Hamburg.
FRANCE are the one nation all England fans are truly afraid of.
They are many punters’ favourites after knocking the Three Lions out of the 2022 World Cup and will be hoping to do much better than at Euro 2020, when they lost to Switzerland in the last 16.
MANAGER: Didier Deschamps
Coming up to 12 years in the job, the only thing missing from his CV is a European Championship.
STAR MAN: Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe’s PSG may have underachieved on the European stage but he remains France’s most deadly threat, with a World Cup trophy and a World Cup final hat-trick to his name.
How France attack
Expect to see France play in a fluid 4-3-3 – which becomes 4-2-3-1 in possession – throughout the tournament.
Giroud acts as the focal point in the attack with the two wide players and Griezmann as No 10 supporting.
How France defend
We can expect to see France defend high with an emphasis on winning back possession as far up the pitch as possible.
France will stagger their defensive shape when the opposition are in possession.
Read the full France Euro 2024 guide here, including predicted line-ups, odds and Wags.
