France coach Didier Deschamps has opted for speed in the face of Poland’s physical presence and may stick with that strategy against Belgium, leaving Griezmann out for the knockout phase.
Before being sent off, Griezmann had surpassed Lilian Thuram’s record of 32 World Cup and Euro appearances, the most by an outfield player for France.
Since making his debut in 2014, Griezmann had not missed a game for Les Bleus in the two major tournaments, appearing in 84 consecutive matches until an injury in March.
Deschamps liked Griezmann for his versatility, playing between midfield and up front, and saw him as a player who could really change a team with his effort and technical ability. Despite this, Griezmann’s performances plummeted, particularly after poor performances against Austria and the Netherlands in Group D.
In his last 31 caps, Griezmann has scored just two goals, a far cry from his 44 goals in 132 appearances.