Antoine Griezmann: France Without Atletico Madrid Star For First Time in Over Seven Years

• Antoine Griezman will miss France's upcoming friendlies
• It's the first time the forward will not play for France in seven years
• Griezmann sustained an injury while playing for Atletico Madrid

Antoine Griezmann has been ruled out of France's friendlies against Germany and Chile with an ankle sprain ending his record run of playing 84 consecutive games for Les Bleus.

The Atletico Madrid star will be absent from the French squad for the first time since November 2016 as France play their final friendlies before the Euro 2024 tournament from June 14-July 14.

Lazio's Matteo Guendouzi has been called up for the first time since the last World Cup in place of 127-cap Griezmann, who has scored 44 goals for France.

Coach Didier Deschamps has described Griezmann as "not irreplaceable but essential" for the France set-up, but accepted the recommendations of the team doctor, the French football federation said.

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The 32-year-old missed four games for Atletico before returning last week and scoring in the Champions League against Inter Milan with the Spanish side advancing to the quarter-finals on penalties.

He also came on at half-time in the 3-0 defeat against Barcelona in La Liga on Sunday.

"Antoine has a problem with his ankle, which reacted even though he played 45 minutes last night," Deschamps said.

"With Antoine's qualities we're not going to find a player who has his characteristics," Deschamps said.

"A replacement position for position is very, very, very difficult to find. We will arrange things differently."

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan is also an injury doubt while Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele is recovering from a punctured eardrum.

Deschamps said he was optimistic for Adrien Rabiot, Lucas Hernandez and Ibrahima Konate.