With the Qatar World Cup roster almost being finalized during this international break, fans are turning their attention to who they think will take home football’s biggest prize in November.
Boasting one of the best squads on paper and having produced many young talents that have gone on to be big names over the years, the footballing giant that is France is perhaps one of the favourites deemed by many to reclaim the World Cup this year.
Having won the World Cup in 2018, it was felt by many that the French did not unlock their full potential throughout the tournament yet went on to win it.
But as they head into the final preparation before Qatar, France looks like a totally different beast. With the return of Karim Benzema and his relationship with Kylian Mbappe who is not anymore, the pacy teenager he was in 2018 but one of the best players in the world at the moment, France have a scary attacking line-up supported by a world-class midfield with the likes of Kante and Pogba.
Last summer’s Euros perhaps came a bit too early for France’s new attack to get going but they surely made up for it by clinching the UEFA Nations League as both Benzema and Mbappe scored in the semi-final and final to secure the win.
But alongside these two, there is also another star in Antoine Griezmann who has somewhat taken a back seat with the potential Real Madrid duo taking centre stage for the national team. Having been France’s go-to man over the years (Euro 2016 top scorer), the Atletico man too seems to have reinvented his game in this fluid attacking line-up for France.
In most of France’s recent games where the trio have featured, it seems as if manager Didier Deschamps has given them the go-ahead to switch positions throughout the game and this has led to the team playing a much more organic brand of football and has been a move much appreciated by the players themselves as well.
As France prepared for their friendlies during this final international break of the season, it looked like the squad were in high spirits.
Griezmann too was seen to be in a joyful mood as fans spotted him joking around during training by scoring a header and then shouting “Harry Kane” as he celebrated.
Football fans on Twitter were naturally surprised with Griezmann’s antics as there isn’t any natural connection to make between the two besides being professional footballers.
These are two reasons which make the most sense –
1. Perhaps since it was Kane’s Tottenham teammate Hugo Lloris in goal, Griezmann chose to celebrate using the Spurs goal machine’s name. Just to make the experience more miserable for the captain.
2. Kane’s also known to be a good header of the ball as Lloris himself would say having faced the Englishman in training numerous times over the years. So it was perhaps a tribute from Griezmann to the heading skills of the Spurs striker
Having made his switch back to Atletico in the summer, Griezmann has had a major impact on the Spanish side in the Champions League, racking up 4 goals and 2 assists in just 7 appearances.
The Frenchman would be hoping to help Atletico in their tough tie against Man City before he once against turns his attention to the France national team who are set to begin their defence of the Nations League crown at the end of the season.
