This summer’s European Championships will see Europe’s biggest football nations clash to discover who the best team on the continent is. Within the tournament is another race, which is the race for the golden boot.
Over the next few days we will preview some of those contenders. We start off with France striker Antoine Griezmann.
The 25-year-old has been in stellar form for Atletico Madrid this season, scoring 32 goals in all competitions. The pacey striker helped Atleti to the Champions League final, where the rare blot on his copy book was a penalty kick miss, as Diego Simeone’s team suffered heartbreak at the hands of Real Madrid in a penalty shoot-out.
Griezmann is regarded as one of the best forwards currently in the world game. The former-Real Sociedad star will be looking to add to his seven international goals for Les Bleus in his homeland this summer.
One obstacle to the striker winning the golden boot may come from within the French camp itself, as Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud and Manchester United forward Anthony Martial are also vying for the role of central striker.
If Giroud is chosen to play as the central striker Griezmann may be shifted to a wing position, where he has been successful in the past, but not as successful as when he plays in a more central role.
One advantage that Griezmann has over Giroud is the fact that Les Bleus fans seem to believe that the Arsenal striker lacks technical ability, whereas the Atletico man certainly does not.
If given the chance Antoine Griezmann will score goals and depending on how the French fare on home soil the Atletico forward may just have to something to celebrate, after a frustrating campaign in club football.