| Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-by-day TV listings - Full coverage details |
Three months ago, when he was a regular substitute, there was no stopping him, but now he is in a new position.
He assisted goals for Aurelien Tchouameni and Oliver Giroud in France's win.
He was named the third-best player at the World Cup, but could he go further?
He and France are just two wins away from becoming the first team since 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
In his career, he has played on the wing, up front, or behind a goal scorer.
With first-choice pair Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante injured, Griezmann has had to play in the middle of the field.
"I ask different things of him," said Deschamps, who won the World Cup as a player.
He is so generous that he takes pleasure in both when he touches the ball and when he passes.
He loves to tackle and recover the ball, even though he won't score as many goals. He can shoot the set-pieces with his left foot.
He has everything to play deeper: vision, work rate, touch, energy, intelligence.
Bruno Fernandes and Harry Kane of England have assisted three goals. He's created 17 chances and six big chances.
He has played 41 passes into the box and won possession in the final third six times, which is the second highest at the World Cup.
At the tournament in Russia, the two of them were first and second for assists, but 11th for chances created. He was seventh for balls into the box and 19th for winning possession in the last third.
The former player said last week that he was free in his new role. I need to be the link between the forwards and the defence.
It's easier for me because I have three players in front of me.
Everything in the national team was given to me by him. I give everything for France but also for him. I am doing everything I can to make him trust me. Every game is a thank you from me. He wants to be proud of me.
In all but one of France's games since the dead rubber against Tunisia, there has been a trio of players in the middle of the field.
The other ones did not score. He has only had six shots compared to 22 in the past.
The reinvention ofAntoine Griezmann as a number eight has been a great move by DesChamps.
He has been outstanding, recovering an average of five balls per game and creating more chances than any other player.
| Games | Goals | Assists | Shots | Chances created | |
| 2014 World Cup | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Euro 2016 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 13 |
| 2018 World Cup | 7 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 10 |
| Euro 2020 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| 2022 World Cup | 5 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 17 |
There is an argument that his record at international level has been under appreciated.
He won the Bronze Ball, the official trophy for the third-best player in the tournament, despite being overshadowed by Kylian MBappe.
He will join Argentina icon Diego Maradona and Brazil legendRonaldo as the only players to win the Golden Ball twice if he finishes in the top three for the second year in a row.
Kane was the only Englishman to win the Silver Boot with four goals.
He has also excelled at the World Cup.
He was named the player of the tournament at Euro 2016 after winning the Golden Boot with six goals.
He has played in France's past 72 games, dating back to a friendly against England in June of last year. The previous record was set by Patrick.
In 115 caps, he has scored 42 goals and made 28 assists, setting a national record.
He had 11 goals and seven assists in the major tournament.
Griezmann has spent his entire career in Spain, where he has scored 170 league goals in 474 games for five different teams.
He's never had a chance to win La Liga despite playing for two different teams.
Barcelona and Atleti have won the title four times and once, respectively, but Griezmann was at the other club every time.
After they won the title, he joined Atleti on loan from Barcelona.
After scoring 35 goals in the two seasons he was at the Barcelona, he returned to Atleti on a loan.
He appeared as a substitute for less than 30 minutes in eight of the first 11 games this season due to a strange contractual situation.
If he played more than 45 minutes in more than 50% of their matches, he'd have to be signed for 40 million euros.
They re-signed him on a permanent basis after coming to a new agreement.
It will be interesting to see if Diego Simeone plays him in this new role when he returns from his break, as he has just six goals in the first half of the season.
Get the latest results and goal notifications for any team at the Fifa World Cup by downloading the BBC Sport app: Apple - Android - Amazon
You can get a daily dose of the World Cup on the radio.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
