Griezmann will not be on France’s international team for the first time since 2016.

Due to an ankle sprain, Antoine Griezmann was forced to miss France’s friendlies against Chile and Germany on Monday, capping a record-breaking 84 straight games played for Les Bleus.

From June 14 to July 14, France will play their final friendlies before the Euro 2024 tournament. This will be the first time since November 2016 that the Atletico Madrid star has been absent from the French side.

Since the striker was not deployed as a substitute in a June 2017 friendly against England, Griezmann has played for France in every game.

Griezmann, a 127-cap player who has 44 goals for France, has been replaced on the squad for the first time since the previous World Cup by Lazio’s Matteo Guendouzi.

The French football association stated that although Griezmann is “not irreplaceable but essential” for the France lineup, coach Didier Deschamps has followed the team doctor’s suggestions.

Before making his Champions League comeback last week, the 32-year-old missed four games for Atletico. He scored against Inter Milan, sending the Spanish team to the quarterfinals via penalties.

He also entered the game at the interval during Sunday’s 3-0 La Liga loss to Barcelona.

“Antoine played 45 minutes last night, but he has an ankle problem that reacted,” Deschamps stated.

With one goal in seven games, Guendouzi has represented France. His last appearance was during the World Cup in QATAR, where he lost Tunisia 1-0 in the last group encounter,

It will be difficult to find a player with Antonie’s traits, according to Deschamps.  Finding a replacement for a position is extremely, really, extremely tough. We’re going to organize things differently

Away from Griezmann: Workforce review

The Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele is recuperating from an eardrum puncture, and AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is also doubtful due to injury.

Regarding Adrien Rabiot, Lucas Hernandez, and Ibrahima Konate, Deschamps expressed optimism.

The defender Konate for Liverpool hasn’t played for the English team in the last three games. He missed injury-related absences for France in September and November as well.

Ibou, who just finished a season in which he played extensively, has a few minor nagging issues, according to Deschamps.

Before announcing his team for the European Championships in mid-May, Deschamps stated that he wanted “to involve as many players as possible” in his final “workforce review.”

He stated that since “we’re never safe” from injuries, the goal would be for the two-time European champions to predict potential outcomes in May or June.

He emphasized, “We are not here to try things; we know the players.”

Deschamps, however, dismissed rumors involving Bradley Barcola, a 21-year-old attacker for PSG, and did not select any new players.

“We’re practicing so we can try different lineups for the two games,” Deschamps continued.

France will play two friendlies against Germany, the European hosts, on March 23 in Lyon and against Chile in Marseille three days later.

The European campaign for Deschamps’ team therefore begins on June 17 in Duesseldorf against Austria.