Having come to the fore by top-scoring at Euro 2016, a lot of onus will be on Antoine Griezmann to lead the line for France this summer.
However, almost exactly two centuries ago in June of 1998, Young Anto was just a mischievous scamp from Mâcon who was busy getting swept away in the excitement of a World Cup being held on home soil.
Spotted in documentary footage that aired a fortnight or so before Les Bleus beat Brazil in the ’98 final, a certain young blond-haired ragamuffin and his chum can be seen eagerly chasing autographs from their Gallic heroes.
Archives, émotions et… surprises! 💙C’est ce soir sur @W9 ! #MinuteParMinute#france98 ⚽ @AntoGriezmann pic.twitter.com/nZqzhRWNgE
— Stéphanie Renouvin (@StefRenouvin) June 11, 2018
Indeed, the footage also demonstrates some remarkable powers of clairvoyance from Thierry Henry, then of Monaco, who remarks that Griezmann and his pal might well prove to be his “successors” at one point.
Un out of deux ain’t bad!