MATES GO TO BATTLE
THE BEST OF ENEMIES
A CONFESSED lover of all things Uruguayan, from grilled meat to bitter-tasting infusion mate, France’s Antoine Griezmann knows not to expect any favourable treatment when confronted by close friend Diego Godin in tonight’s World Cup quarterfinal.
Teammates at Atletico Madrid, Griezmann and Godin have formed such a bond over the past four years the rugged defender is the godfather of Griezmann’s daughter Mia.
“Diego is a great friend. I am with him every day in Madrid,” he said before 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.”
His love affair with Uruguay started when handed his breakthrough at Real Sociedad by Martin Lasarte in 2009.
Having spent his career in Spain, Griezmann has always had a steady stream of Uruguayan teammates.
He began drinking mate at Sociedad with former Uruguay striker Carlos Bueno and was persuaded to join Atletico in 2014 by Godin.
“He says he is Uruguayan,” Godin said. “He made his debut with Martin Lasarte and had a lot of time for him.
“He has always been surrounded by Uruguayan players. He likes how we are and our customs: eating the barbecue, our music, he even drinks more mate than me!”
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 in the Spanish capital.
“They will waste time, they will fall down, surround the referee. It’s their eir game, it it’s s the same at Atletico,” co,” said Griezmann. “The The match will be boring, they will ill want us to fall into their trap.” ”
Much as they may not seem it, those are meant as words of respect.
Griezmann turned down overtures from m Barcelona to sign ign a new deal at Atletico. letico.
“They give everything for their teammates, i’ it’s beautiful,” he said.
Griezmann has also seen 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.
After labouring through as winners of Group C, France sprang into life thanks to the speed of Kylian Mbappe in a 4-3 win over Argentina.
Griezmann was on target with his second penalty, but the Golden Boot winner at Euro 2016 has not yet hit top form in Russia, instead being overshadowed by his 19-yearold strike partner. Griezmann, though, knows Godin and another Atletico teammate, Jose Maria Gimenez, will not give Mbappe the same space.
“Do not expect him to do too much of the same,” he said of heightened expectations after Mbappe drew parallels with Pele when he became the first teenager since the Brazilian to score at least twice in a World Cup match.
“The Uruguayans will change the way to defend him. It’s up to us to put him in good positions.”