Griezmann’s place in France hierarchy could be at an end

HAMBURG, Germany : It has been among the longest and more successful partnerships in international football but Didier Deschamps' reliance on Antoine Griezmann could be at an end as France chart a new course at the European Championship.

The vice-captain lost his place for their last group game against Poland and there is no guarantee he will have it back for the last-16 clash with Belgium in Duesseldorf on Monday.

That would have seemed almost unthinkable just months ago, but Griezmann has suffered a dramatic slump and Deschamps’ reliance on his ability to play many different roles in the team looks at an end.

“It was a choice in relation to the options that I took,” Deschamps told reporters when asked to explain the omission that many pundits predicted was coming.

The Francw coach chose speed to take on Poland’s more dominant physical presence and could stick with that same idea against Belgium’s back four, leaving Griezmann sidelined again as the tournament enters the knockout phase.

Before being dropped, the 33-year-old had overtaken Lilian Thuram’s record of 32 matches at the World Cup and Euros – the most for an outfield player in a French jersey.

Indeed, he has not missed a match for Les Bleus in the two major tournaments since his debut for the selection in 2014.

He has been in all of Deschamps' campaigns as France coach and featured in a record 84 consecutive matches with the national team, a series that ended in March only because of injury.

Playing as a link between the midfield and the front line, he served his manager in multiple roles on the field and off it, which Deschamps seemed to cherish.

"He's the type of player who can really change a team because he's so hard working and so technically gifted," the coach