Atletico Madrid refusing to play Antoine Griezmann more than 30 minutes/Resolved!/smashing it for France.

[Red Star One]

player of the tournament by a fine margin so far.

 

[Red the Bear]

Mbappe shouldn't really be in the conversation if we're honest, he kinda stat padded this tournament.

 

[royboy16]

He’s been brilliant for France again.

 

[Stadjer]

If France win and Griezmann puts in a MOTM performance he wins it. Seriously, player of the tournament will come down to which one of Messi, Griezmann and Mbappé plays best/wins

At this moment Messi and Griezmann have been the 2 best players in the WC and the only thing separating them is Messi doesn't have Mbappé on his team(though Alvarez is getting there at this point)

Griezmann wont win it. He is just Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid and he is up against Mbappe and Messi. Mbappe is the next big star in world football and Messi the best to have ever played the game. Griezmann just isnt high profile enough or a 'sexy enough choice' to win it.

 

[Canagel]

None of that Messi,Mbappe hype. This is the player of the tournament.

He has been 2 players in 1 , I don't think people realize the scale of what he has done in this world cup.

 

[MostHandsomePlayer]

You could make a pretty good squad with Simeone cast-offs playing well in the tournament.

Griezmann
Molina
De Paul
Felix

Any others?

 

[Sir Erik ten Hag]

None of that Messi,Mbappe hype. This is the player of the tournament.

He has been 2 players in 1 , I don't think people realize the scale of what he has done in this world cup.

France is quite lucky. Last time they had Kante doing a 2-man's job. This time Griezmann does another 2-man's job for them.

 

[Brwned]

Still think this @Jev?

I've watched Griezmann quite a few times, and for the life of me I can't figure out what he's supposed to excel at, or why he ever became so highly rated. He's so often anonymous, ineffective and just so very meh, whether he's playing for France or Barcelona. Am I the only one who just can't see his special qualities?

He doesn’t have special skills in the traditional sense, but that combination of skills is surely very useful in this context…there’s no way his teams would’ve got to Champions League or World Cup finals without him.

 

[Ludens the Red]

He was great tonight but baffled at the praise for previous games. I didn’t watch France v Denmark but saw them play Australia, Poland and England and if those displays were ‘’matching or overtaking Messi’ this World Cup then I’ve lost all touch with the world.

 

[tjb]

He was great tonight but baffled at the praise for previous games. I didn’t watch France v Denmark but saw them play Australia, Poland and England and if those displays were ‘’matching or overtaking Messi’ then I’ve lost all touch with the world.

Then you clearly weren't watching. Yes he wasn't doing the amount of work he's oing defensively, but he was exceptional on the ball in those games. He did for France what Modric has been doing for Croatia

 

[tjb]

His game is quite obvious if people pay attention.

Still think this @Jev?


He doesn’t have special skills in the traditional sense, but that combination of skills is surely very useful in this context…there’s no way his teams would’ve got to Champions League or World Cup finals without him.

His game is quite noticeable if people pay attention. He has an exceptional first touch....match that with good balance, good dribbling and good agility; it allows him to get into tight spaces, then move the ball or drive with it. This means that if Giroud gets a long ball and puts it into a decent position, Griezmann has such good concentration and such a great first touch that he is able to get on the ball rather quickly where a lot of forwards would have lost potential duels. He also has a good pass and a decent eye, so can create chances easily. This was his traditional role.

In this competition, he's taken it a step further. He now drops deeper, and a bit like Iniesta, he's able to roam and provide a consistent outlet to players in more difficult duels. He's essentially playing the David Silva role. His first touch and his ability to keep the ball allows him to combine and get teammates out of difficult positions or combine and create holes within the oppositions midfield or defence. He's the reason France are able to combine so easily when they chose to attack. He always knows where the ball is and always gets it to where he wants it to be even in difficult circumstances. In the France team i'm sure he has the most ball receptions, I'm certain he's created the most chances, I'm also certain he has the most line breaks yet still manages to impact the game defensively. It's an all around performance....I love Messi, but he hasn't done that.

 

[Righteous Steps]

Player of the tournament above Mbappe.

 

[mav_9me]

Griezmann wont win it. He is just Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid and he is up against Mbappe and Messi. Mbappe is the next big star in world football and Messi the best to have ever played the game. Griezmann just isnt high profile enough or a 'sexy enough choice' to win it.

Unless he scores a goal or two in the final without the other two scoring.

 

[RedBanker]

He was great tonight but baffled at the praise for previous games. I didn’t watch France v Denmark but saw them play Australia, Poland and England and if those displays were ‘’matching or overtaking Messi’ this World Cup then I’ve lost all touch with the world.

Without him vs England for example, France would not have got a positive result. See his role in linking defence to attack, attempted interceptions, tracking back etc. It's not just about fancy dribbling and stuff.

 

[Longlivekeano]

He’s like The Central Midfield version of Giggs with more engine

 

[RedDevil@84]

Well if he outplays Messi in the final why wouldn’t he?

No chance Messi misses the "best" award. Win or lose, it will be given to Messi.

 

[Isotope]

You guys talk like Messi will get the award just because he's Messi.

Messi will (probably) get the award because he's been the best player so far, imho.

 

[Red Star One]

He was great tonight but baffled at the praise for previous games. I didn’t watch France v Denmark but saw them play Australia, Poland and England and if those displays were ‘’matching or overtaking Messi’ this World Cup then I’ve lost all touch with the world.

He was easily their best play for the last two games and I’m not sure they make the final if it wasn’t for Griezmann

 

[kouroux]

France is quite lucky. Last time they had Kante doing a 2-man's job. This time Griezmann does another 2-man's job for them.

Well France did lose many good players through injuries before the tournament

 

[NoPace]

Not buying him from Sociedad after he scored like 15 goals as a left-footed left winger was truly idiotic stuff. That's at least a 20 goal season on the right. Atletico had just won the league he played in, so maybe he would have preferred it, but Real Sociedad probably would have rather sold to us, and for more than 25M pounds.

 

[Jev]

Still think this @Jev?


He doesn’t have special skills in the traditional sense, but that combination of skills is surely very useful in this context…there’s no way his teams would’ve got to Champions League or World Cup finals without him.

I did think this right up until this World Cup actually. It's been a revelation watching him in midfield. I don't watch a lot of La Liga but whenever I've seen him as a forward, I've usually been underwhelmed. Not that I thought he was bad, just not deserving of his reputation, and more like a glorified Thomas Müller. Will be interesting to see what happens after this World Cup, because he's been unplayable in that midfield position.

 

[golden_blunder]

Enjoyed his performances so far. It’s interesting to see he’s dropping deeper and having more impact there as he gets older. A French Paul Scholes?

 

[Vidyoyo]

Does he still do those stupid dances?

 

[cyberman]

Enjoyed his performances so far. It’s interesting to see he’s dropping deeper and having more impact there as he gets older. A French Paul Scholes?

He doesn’t do that for Atletico though? Seems everybody is claiming he’s some great midfielder based off of a position he doesn’t play

 

[Conor]

His passing has been amazing, some of the looping balls he plays are quite Messi-like.

 

[JJ12]

Impressive display in this tournament. I think him and Messi are neck and neck for the award. If France wins on Sunday he may very well get it.

 

[Red the Bear]

Maybe we should take a look at him if this Renaissance of his continues with Atletico on the club level.

Not too old so has few years in him left, I also doubt he'd be expensive this time around.

 

[Nick7]

Maybe we should take a look at him if this Renaissance of his continues with Atletico on the club level.

Not too old so has few years in him left, I also doubt he'd be expensive this time around.

Where would he play? Bruno (who also had a really good World Cup)has the roaming #10 role sewn up.

 

[Red the Bear]

Where would he play? Bruno (who also had a really good World Cup)has the roaming #10 role sewn up.

I mean if we could for a decent price, it surely won't hurt having him around.

 

[Sylar]

You guys talk like Messi will get the award just because he's Messi.

Messi will (probably) get the award because he's been the best player so far, imho.

Messi has been great, but didnt he get the award some tournaments ago just for being Messi?

 

[Isotope]

Messi has been great, but didnt he get the award some tournaments ago just for being Messi?

In the WC when Germany won it, yes. It was undeserved. Then on Ballon d' Or several times (like the previous one before Benzema's, I think).

But this time, I think he truly deserves it.

 

[FriedClams]

He and Messi have been far and away the best players at this world cup.

 

[Ekeke]

He's done so much work for the team tracking back and ball winning I suspect he'd be more defensively solid as our 2nd DM than Eriksen

 

[Sylar]

In the WC when Germany won it, yes. It was undeserved. Then on Ballon d' Or several times (like the previous one before Benzema's, I think).

But this time, I think he truly deserves it.

I wouldnt argue if he wins it

Same time , if France wins it, Messi doesnt do anything in a final again, AG winning the award would make sense.
Basically Id say its between Messi and AG
Im guessing Fifa are probably thinking its between Messi and Mbappe.
And the winning team player gets it.

 

[Isotope]

I wouldnt argue if he wins it

Same time , if France wins it, Messi doesnt do anything in a final again, AG winning the award would make sense.
Basically Id say its between Messi and AG
Im guessing Fifa are probably thinking its between Messi and Mbappe.
And the winning team player gets it.

I don't disagreed, mate. Even on the group stage, I'd already recognized AG as one of the best player, and I like watching him.

Messi and AG should be the Top two best players. The Final will determine more, although as it stands right now, i have Messi as best player. And believe me, mate, I'm far from Messi fan.

 

[mav_9me]

I did think this right up until this World Cup actually. It's been a revelation watching him in midfield. I don't watch a lot of La Liga but whenever I've seen him as a forward, I've usually been underwhelmed. Not that I thought he was bad, just not deserving of his reputation, and more like a glorified Thomas Müller. Will be interesting to see what happens after this World Cup, because he's been unplayable in that midfield position.

I think it's easier to do this for a tournament for the national team in a world cup. At this point I am highly skeptical he can replicate this for Atletico.

 

[Revan]

Best midfielder in the world? He is playing like a combination of Xavi and Iniesta.

 

[Bosnian_fan]

Messi's importance and numbers can't be overlooked, but Griezmann is close second this World Cup.

 

[Lecland07]

You could make a pretty good squad with Simeone cast-offs playing well in the tournament.

Griezmann
Molina
De Paul
Felix

Any others?

He didn't play well. He had one good game; the rest of the time he didn't really do anything.

 

[Bosnian_fan]

I'd also say de Paul's contribution to Argentina's success has largely been overblown. I'd rate his influence much lower than Enzo's and Mac Allister's.

Perhaps it's just me, but de Paul is profile of player I'd never sign. He seems like an energetic workhorse, but far too agressive, seems often on the verge of serious tackle. His first touch is far from impressive, but his passing and vision even worse.

Probably I've been bit biased because I don't like him as a player, and I guess stats may tell a different story, but in a team going for biggest achievements, I'm not sure where he would slot in.