Yesterday, July 9, the French national team exited the Euro 2024 tournament after suffering a heavy 1-2 defeat to the Spanish team in the semi-finals. It was a heartbreaking loss for the reigning world champions, who had high hopes of defending their European title on home soil. Antoine Grizmann, the experienced forward who has been a mainstay of the French team for over a decade, reflected on the disappointment of losing his starting place in this crucial match. “It’s never easy when you go from being a regular starter to being on the bench,” he said. “I felt like I was really finding my rhythm and improving with each game, so it was hard to accept that decision from the manager.”
Grizmann, who has more than 100 caps for his country, was a mainstay of the French attack throughout their run to the semi-finals. However, in the latter stages of the tournament, coach Didier Deschamps opted to make some tactical changes, bringing in younger players like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé to provide more pace and dynamism up front. “Of course, I was disappointed not to start this semi-final,” Grizmann admitted. “As a competitor, you always want to be on the pitch to help your team. But I understood the manager’s thinking: he thought the team needed a different approach against the Spanish, and I respect that decision.”
Despite his personal disappointment, Grizmann remains optimistic about the future of the French team. “We may not have succeeded this time, but I truly believe that this team has the quality and character to bounce back stronger than ever,” he said. “It has been a learning experience for all of us, and I am confident that we will be fighting for trophies again in the years to come.” The 33-year-old, who won a World Cup and a European Championship with France, stressed the importance of keeping the team together in the face of adversity. “When you suffer a defeat like this, it is easy to create tension and point fingers,” he said. “But that is not how we operate. We are a tight-knit group, and we will stick together, analyse what went wrong and come back hungrier than ever.”
Grizmann’s words echoed the sentiment of the entire French team, devastated by the defeat but determined to use it as motivation for the future. “This is a young team with so much potential,” he said. “We have quality in every position, and I truly believe the best is yet to come for this group of players.” As the French team headed home, Grizmann and his teammates were already looking ahead to the next big tournament, with the 2026 World Cup in their sights. “We’re going to take some time to rest and reflect, but then we’ll get back to work,” he said. “We know what it takes to win at the highest level, and we’re going to put in the effort to make sure we’re ready to compete for more trophies.”
As the final whistle blew on France's 1-2 semi-final defeat to Spain at Euro 2024, devastation was etched on the players' faces. For Antoine Griezmann, the veteran forward who has been a key part of the French team for over a decade, the loss was a particularly bitter pill to swallow. "I gave it my all, also trying to adapt to different positions," Griezmann said, reflecting on the team's performance. "Our defence was really solid throughout the Euros, but in attack we just didn't manage to take our chances enough, and that's what ultimately hurt us." The 33-year-old, who had been a regular starter for France throughout their run to the semi-finals, unexpectedly found himself on the bench for the crucial game against the Spanish. It was a difficult decision for coach Didier Deschamps, who had opted to make some tactical changes and recruit younger, more dynamic players like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé.
“That’s how it goes sometimes in a footballer’s life,” Griezmann acknowledged, his voice tinged with a hint of resignation. “Others didn’t even get minutes, so I’m not the type to complain.” Griezmann’s words conveyed a sense of professionalism and perspective, even in the face of such personal disappointment. He understood the realities of top-flight football, where tough decisions have to be made by the coaching staff, and he didn’t want to dwell on his own frustrations. “I know it must have been a difficult decision for the manager,” he said. “He felt the team needed a different approach against the Spanish, and I respect that decision. As a competitor, of course, I always want to be on the pitch, helping my team, but I understand the reasoning behind it.”
Despite the heartbreak of defeat, Griezmann's remarks suggested a mature, team-oriented mentality. He was more concerned with the collective performance of the French team than his own individual role, putting the national team's goals ahead of his own personal ambitions. "We may not have succeeded this time, but I truly believe this team has the quality and character to bounce back stronger than ever," he said. "It's been a learning experience for all of us, and I'm confident we'll be fighting for trophies again in the years to come."
Griezmann's words echoed the sentiment of the entire French team, devastated by the defeat but determined to use it as motivation for the future. "We are a tight-knit group, and we will stick together, analyse what went wrong and come back hungrier than ever," he said. As the French team headed home, Griezmann and his teammates were already looking ahead to the next major tournament, with the 2026 World Cup in their sights. "We will take some time to rest and reflect, but then we will get back to work," he said. "We know what it takes to win at the highest level, and we will put in the effort to make sure we are ready to compete for more trophies."
