Griezmann and His Cloven Heart

AFP PHOTO/JEWEL SAMAD

France\'s forward Antoine Griezmann (right) celebrates after scoring with France\'s forward Olivier Giroud (left) during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 soccer match between France and Argentina at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on June 30, 2018.

MOSCOW, KOMPAS – The upcoming World Cup quarterfinal match between France and Uruguay in Nizhny Novgorod on Friday (6/7/2018) will be especially emotional for French striker Antoine Griezmann. For Les Bleus’ soccer star, Uruguay is a part of him and is his second home after France.

Dozens of photojournalists from around the globe pointed their cameras toward Griezmann ahead of the French team’s closed practice session on Tuesday (3/7). With a thin jacket and black shorts, Griezmann stepped out of the hotel where the team stayed in Istra, a suburb of Moscow.

He greeted journalists and soccer fans with a three-finger salute before entering the bus that would take him to the practice grounds. His other hand was holding an ornate cup of cimarron or mate, a traditional Latin American hot beverage.

AFP PHOTO/FRANCK FIFE AND PABLO PORCIUNCULA BRUNE

This combination of photos created on July 4, 2018 shows Uruguay\'s Luis Suarez celebrating with teammate Edinson Cavani (right) after scoring a penalty in Montevideo on September 6, 2016 (top) and France\'s forward Kylian Mbappe (left) celebrating with forward Antoine Griezmann after scoring in Kazan on June 30, 2018. France will play Uruguay in their the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final soccer match at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod on July 6, 2018.

Griezmann is known for always bringing the beverage wherever he goes, including to the World Cup this year. It is like a drug for him. Griezmann’s love for Uruguay is seen in many other things besides always bringing the cimarron with him. He is fluent in Uruguayan Spanish and, in October last year, was seen celebrating in a Uruguayan sky-blue national football team jersey after the La Celeste team was qualified for the World Cup.

“I celebrate [Uruguay’s] qualification [in the World Cup] because I love the country and its people. I have many good friends there. Uruguay is a part of me,” said Griezmann in an interview with FIFA TV.

For the Atletico Madrid striker, Uruguay has long been a part of his life. He started his career at the Spanish club Real Sociedad under Uruguayan coach Martin Lasarte. There, he was close friends with Uruguayan striker Carlos Bueno. Currently in Atletico, he is close with two Uruguayan players, Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez. Godin is the godfather of Griezmann’s daughter Mia, 2.

AFP PHOTO/YURI CORTEZ

France\'s forward Antoine Griezmann (center) drives a ball past France\'s defender Samuel Umtiti (left) and teammates during a training session at Glebovets Stadium, Istra outside of Moscow on July 4, 2018, during the Russia 2018 World Cup soccer tournament.

Fate has now brought him face-to-face with his two closest friends. For 90 minutes (plus injury time), they need to set aside their friendship. Griezmann will now fight Godin and Gimenez for a place in the semifinals.

Both Godin and Gimenez are the souls of the Uruguayan team in Russia. The duo of central defenders has made Uruguay the team with the best defense thus far. Only one goal has been scored against the team thus far, in tie with Brazil.

Griezmann has a huge burden on his shoulders and France’s greatest hope to score goals. Unfortunately, his luster has somewhat faded away in Russia. The 27-year-old striker has only scored two goals, both through penalty kicks.

AFP PHOTO/MARTIN BERNETTI

Uruguay\'s players attend a training session at the Sport Centre Borsky in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on July 3, during the 2018 World Cup soccer tournament. France will face Uruguay on July 6 in Nizhniy Novgorod for their quarterfinal match.

Griezmann now stands under the shadow of his far-younger compatriot Kylian Mbappe-Lottin, 19. Mbappe became a French hero after defeating Argentina in the Round of 16. His two goals in the match made him the second teenage player after Pele to score two goals in one World Cup.

Mbappe can be France’s deadly weapon against Uruguay. His fierce assaults and speed will spell trouble for Godin and Gimenez. Nevertheless, France team manager Didier Deschamps insisted that his team would not be dependent exclusively on Mbappe. He said that he hoped other strikers, especially Griezmann, would perform better to improve Les Bleus’ chances of World Cup victory.

“[Griezmann] is a huge player. Like other stars, he is burdened by expectations. I personally hope that he can step up his game. He continues to develop despite having had difficulties and having to adjust in the group stage,” Deschamps told reporters last week.