World Cup qualification: Griezmann criticises teammate, questions Deschamps after France 1-1 with Ukraine

France winger, Antoine Griezmann has criticised his teammates and questioned coach Didier Deschamps tactics after France were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Ukraine in the 2022 World Cup qualifying encounter on Wednesday.

France’s head coach, Deschamps adopted a 4-4-2 formation rather than his usual 4-2-3-1, and the team found it difficult to adjust to the new tactics.

Griezmann fired France in front, in the 19th minute with a curled effort, but France were punished in the second half, as Presnel Kimpembe’s own goal gave Ukraine a point.

Speaking to TF1 after the match, the Barcelona forward, said, “We needed maybe more offensive players who are able to go one-v-one on the sidelines.

“We will learn to play in a system like that and try to start winning again. We wanted to win but we didn’t play a great game. We’re going to look at it all and try to improve.

“We should have secured the win in the first half, we had the opportunities. It was more difficult in the second half.

“The goal that we conceded was avoidable, we pushed to the end. We are obviously disappointed, it would have been ideal to win.

“We lacked energy in the second half. We can do better. We needed more precision and movement.”