Zinedine Zidane would succeed as France coach – Antoine Griezmann

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann told ESPN FC that Zinedine Zidane would one day be a good option to take over as France coach.

Zidane, who resigned in May as Real Madrid coach, earned 106 caps for France, including winning the World Cup in 1998.

France coach Didier Deschamps was one of Zidane’s teammates in 1998 and guided the squad, including Griezmann, to a second world title in Russia in July. He has been in that position since 2012, making him France’s longest-serving coach since Michel Hidalgo stepped down in 1984.

“I don’t know how long Deschamps wants to remain as national manager,” Griezmann told ESPN FC. “He has earned the respect he has, and I think he will be on the job as much as he wants. However, I believe Zidane could be the best manager available [for France].”

But, he added: “Actually, Deschamps has done a terrific job.”

France defeated Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final, with Griezmann named the man of the match after scoring a penalty for his fourth goal in seven games.

It was a significant change from two years earlier, when Griezmann lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid with Atletico and then lost the Euro 2016 final with France to Portugal.

“The first week [after the Euro final defeat] was so tough,” Griezmann said. “I didn’t want to know anything about football. I couldn’t bear myself to watch matches on TV. [Highlights of] the France matches were on, [discussion of] the Champions League final was on and I couldn’t watch TV. I tried to be inside my world, with my parents, in my hometown, with my wife … and not much else. I didn’t want to know anything about it.”

Only the start of a new season helped Griezmann escape that misery.

“It’s tough because the new season begins, and you have to start over from scratch,” he said. “You are motivated but there are also doubts whether you can make it or not, if you can be at a high level again. In the end, it’s work, work, and not much else.”

Now, having won the World Cup, Griezmann believes France are set up for significant success in the future, including in the ongoing UEFA Nations League, Euro 2020 and, potentially, the next World Cup.

“I think our average age [at this past World Cup] was 25 years, or it was around that,” Griezmann said. “It was a very young squad. I think we have the players and, above all, the youth in order to do something bigger. The Euro is coming, there is another World Cup in store and, if we keep on doing our job this way, staying humble as we are, we can hope to win it all.”