• World Cup 2022

Griezmann has a mix of Zidane & Platini, says World Cup winner

Antoine Griezmann
© Equipe de France
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The Atletico Madrid attacker’s recent performances have led to comparisons with two of arguably France’s greatest players in history.

Antoine Griezmann has a ‘mix of Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini’ about him, according to 1998 French World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry.

Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud may be smacking home most of the goals, but Griezmann’s performances have not gone unnoted in France’s run to the World Cup semi-finals.

The 31-year-old is level with Lionel Messi, Bruno Fernandes, and Harry Kane for a joint-best three assists in the tournament. He also surpassed Thierry Henry for the most assists in the French national team’s history by bagging his 27th and 28th assists in the 2-1 quarter-final win over England.

“Griezmann, I find him simply exceptional since the start of the competition,” Dugarry told RMC.

“I even find him, at times, ‘Zidane-esque’. He always has the right tone, and the right pass. I sincerely think that the France team would not be the same without him. We often lack rhythm in our game; there’s not a lot of intensity. But, as soon as Antoine touches the ball, he puts rhythm on a pass, on a vision. He has a mix of Zizou and Platini. 

“Platini, he enlightened the game, he had a vision. He saw the game before the others. Griezmann, I find him breathtaking. I find him calm, I find him serene, I find him mature.”

Griezmann has had eight goal involvements in his last eight World Cup starts (three goals, five assists). He’ll hope to continue this form on Wednesday when France take on Morocco in the semi-finals. For betting tips and stats, visit the link on Ace Football here.

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