Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golders
French coach Didier Deschamps has said he thinks Antoine Griezmann and “all French players abroad” like Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante are “underrated.”
The French legend World Cup winner, who used to play for Chelsea, made the comments during a press conference on Monday evening in Clairefontaine before his side’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Moldova.
Deschamps said that Griezmann is “one of the best forwards in the world” and that he is “definitely” underrated. He added: “It has always been the case for French players who play abroad.
Pictures Credit: Golders & Golders/@antogriezmann
“Antoine has had a very high-quality season. He was decisive in winning the Europa League and he was decisive in winning the World Cup too.
“He certainly deserved an individual award, but he’s one of the best strikers in the world.
“He always thinks of the team first, even if he’s a forward. We saw him in the last match, where he was supposed to take the penalty and he left it to Olivier Giroud. This gesture sums up by itself where he fits in with the team.”
Many of the players who make up France’s squad play out of the country, with Griezmann joining Manchester United star Paul Pogba, Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane and Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud as overseas stars.
Tottenham Hotspur’s goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is the captain of the French side.
Deschamps spent a lot of time abroad, playing for Juventus, Chelsea and Valencia in a glistening career.
The coach even said that Griezmann deserved to win the Ballon d’Or.
Speaking of the rumours he could move away from Atletico Madrid this summer, the French coach said that the 28-year-old star was “mature” and could be “made to think about things” but he added that these were “difficult career choices that required to be thought about at length.”
Spanish media in the meantime are reporting that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) might be interested in snapping up the Atletico Madrid forward if Neymar and Mbappe were to leave the French club amidst rumours there could also be a possible move to Barcelona in the works for Griezmann.
