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‘I still have the desire’ – Antoine Griezmann won’t retire from France duty

‘I still have the desire’ – Antoine Griezmann won’t retire from France duty
‘I still have the desire’ – Antoine Griezmann won’t retire from France duty

Olivier Giroud (37) has hung up his international boots in the wake of France’s elimination from Euro 2024 at the hands of Spain in the semi-final stage. L’Équipe understands that Kingsley Coman (28) could make the shock decision of joining Giroud and announcing his retirement from international football.

One player who isn’t ready to exit the international football scene, however, is Antoine Griezmann (33). The Atletico Madrid forward, previously undroppable for Les Bleus, incredibly featuring in every single match between 2016 and 2024, setting a world record, came in and out of the team, and trialled in various positions.

He detailed his difficult campaign in a post-match mixed zone interview, attended by Get French Football News. “I started badly,” admitted Griezmann. “But then I felt better and better and then I ended up on the bench. We’ll be back. I tried to give everything with lots of positional and tactical changes. I had to adapt all the time but that’s how it is – that’s the life of a footballer. Others didn’t play one minute so I’m not going to complain.”

He then extinguished any doubt of an international retirement. “I still have the desire,” said Griezmann, who like the rest of the France squad, will now turn their attention towards triumph in the World Cup in two years.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle