Get to know France hero Antoine Griezmann
Saturday, July 9, 2016
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Known to team-mates as 'Grizou', 'Grizi' or 'Anto', Antoine Griezmann has raised his profile in a major way during UEFA EURO 2016; team reporter David Crossan fills in the gaps.
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Known as 'Grizou', 'Grizi' or 'Anto' to his France colleagues, Antoine Griezmann has become a lot more familiar to football fans during UEFA EURO 2016. Three goals clear in the adidas Golden Boot race after his semi-final double against Germany, the forward has become a hero in his homeland and a headline-maker around the world – but, as team reporter David Crossan explains, there is much about the 25-year-old you (probably) didn't know.
He could have played for Portugal
If things had turned out differently, Griezmann might have been in the Portugal line-up for Sunday's final, like French-born duo Raphael Guerreiro and Adrien Silva. The Atlético attacker's maternal grandfather Amaro Lopes was Portuguese and played for Paços de Ferreira, before emigrating with his wife Carolina to Macon in France in 1957. That's where Isabelle, Griezmann's mother, gave birth to the France No7 on 21 March 1991.
José Lopes, Griezmann's uncle, told Portuguese media last year that Portugal had been interested in persuading Griezmann to turn out for the country in 2008. The striker hasn't forgotten his origins and his late grandfather will be on his mind at the Stade de France. Griezmann: "Of course I'll be thinking of him when I take the field on Sunday. I don't yet know how I'll pay tribute to him."
He was rejected by seven clubs
Despite his recent success, Griezmann was turned away by seven clubs aged 13, being told he was too slight or too little. He has delighted in proving people wrong ever since, and has used his 175cm frame to good effect at UEFA EURO 2016, scoring two headers. "At the time they wanted players who were 2m tall, capable of winning matches straight away, without thinking about what the future might bring," he explained recently.
He loves a cup of mate
Griezmann's entire career has been spent in Spain, first at Real Sociedad and now with the Colchoneros. His surroundings have definitely rubbed off on him – just watch him cry "Vamos" when he scores, or see him carry a cup of mate through the mixed zone after games.
The plant-based caffeinated drink is an institution in Latin America and Griezmann's former coach Philippe Montanier says he acquired the habit from being in contact with South American players at La Real. "It's like tea or coffee," said the player himself. "I drink it all the time before training. It wakes me up."
He can't get enough of Football Manager
Griezmann loves playing the management simulation game Football Manager in his spare time. Taking charge of Arsenal recently, he risked an earful from French international team-mate Olivier Giroud after signing Romelu Lukaku from Everton and leaving the Gunners frontman on the bench.
He learns from his mistakes
After an ill-judged nightclubbing expedition from Le Havre to Paris while on Under-21 duty, Griezmann was banned from representing France between 12 November 2012 and 31 December 2013. It proved a defining experience, with his father Alain quickly setting him straight: "My father reminded me that a footballer's image is very important and I mustn't damage the family name. I'm lucky my parents educated me well."
He's a big fan of Drake
Griezmann celebrates his goals as if he has a mobile phone in both hands, echoing the dance move from the Drake song Hotline Bling. On Friday, Griezmann posted a parody of the video on his Facebook and Twitter pages, with the forward's head replacing that of the Canadian rapper.