Griezmann doesn’t expect godfather Godin to give ground
France striker knows he faces a tough test against his close friend
Aself-confessed lover of all things Uruguayan, France’s Antoine Griezmann knows not to expect any favourable treatment when confronted by close friend Diego Godin in today’s World Cup quarter-final.
Teammates at Atletico Madrid, Griezmann and Godin have formed such a bond over the past four years that the rugged defender is the godfather of Griezmann’s daughter Mia.
“Diego is a great friend. I am with him every day in Madrid,” Griezmann said ahead of the clash in Nizhny Novgorod. “It is a nationality that I love, a people that I love. It will be a very emotional match for me.”
Griezmann’s love affair with Uruguay began when handed his breakthrough at Real Sociedad by Martin Lasarte in 2009.
He made friends at Sociedad with former Uruguay striker Carlos Bueno and was persuaded to join Atletico in 2014 by Godin.
“He says he is Uruguayan,” said Godin. “He has always been surrounded by Uruguayan players. He likes how we are and our customs.”
Atletico connection
At Atletico, Griezmann is the star and top scorer. Godin, though, is the embodiment of the dogged, determined and defensively brilliant side Diego Simeone has created.
Griezmann turned down overtures from Barcelona to commit his future to Atletico just before his World Cup began. “They give everything for their teammates, it’s beautiful,” he added.
Griezmann has also witnessed Atletico beating the odds too many times against the likes of Real Madrid, Barca and Bayern Munich to take a place in the semi-finals for granted.
Griezmann was on target with his second penalty of the tournament, but the breakout star and Golden Boot winner at Euro 2016 has not yet hit top form in Russia.
Instead he has been overshadowed by his blistering 19-year-old strike partner.
Griezmann, though, knows Godin and another Atletico teammate, Jose Maria Gimenez, will not give Mbappe the same space to exploit that a disorganised Argentina did. “Do not expect him to do too much of the same in the quarters,” he said.