Griezmann: Winning all that counts

Antoine Griezmann has hit back at criticism of France playing “anti-football” under Didier Deschamps .

And he insists that it does not matter how Les Bleus go about trying to beat Croatia in tomorrow’s World Cup final (4pm).

Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois and captain Eden Hazard both lamented France approached their semifinal.

A second-half Samuel Umtiti header proved enough for a 1-0 win, despite Deschamps’ side conceding large amounts of possession.

Atletico Madrid forward Griezmann, however, maintains France will do whatever it takes to lift the World Cup for a second time in Moscow.

“Thibaut Courtois – he played at Atletico, he was a Spanish champion. With Chelsea, does he believe he is playing the football of Barcelona?” Griezmann said. “I don’t care how. I want a second star to be on this shirt, and if I have the star, I do not care about the game we have done.”

Griezmann believes France’s progress has been built on a collective team effort throughout the group.

“We thought we needed to be a solid block, hard to beat. It is improved over time,” the 27-year-old said.

“We know that we can be offensive at any moment, but the defence remains our base.”

Griezmann expects coach Deschamps, who won the World Cup as a player in 1998, to be ready for the Croats’ challenge.

“He knows the way. We believe in him, we trust him,” the forward said.

“He prepares the matches well and has made strong choices in this competition, especially with Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez. His choices are paying off – I hope it’ll continue.”

Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi should be involved despite being forced off against Belgium following a heavy collision.

Matuidi, 31, reckons victory – should France achieve it – should be dedicated to the whole nation.

“The diversity that we have in this team is in the image of our beautiful country, France,” he said.