Euro 2024: Griezmann hopes to return for France's battle with Belgium

Neighbours clash in Dusseldorf on Monday as Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal take on Georgia

France forward Antoine Griezmann, centre, takes part in training on the eve of their Euro 2024 last-16 game against Belgium. AFP

France's Antoine Griezmann, right, with Kylian Mbappe, and Marcus Thuram during a training session. AP

France's Antoine Griezmann, left, trains with Benjamin Pavard and Theo Hernandez. AFP

France's Antoine Griezmann trains. PA

France's Antoine Griezmann embraces coach Didier Deschamps after being substituted against Austria. Reuters

Antoine Griezmann will hope to reclaim his place in France's starting line-up for their Euro 2024 last-16 clash with Belgium after being dropped for their last group game against Poland.

The neighbours, ranked No 2 and No 3 in the world respectively by Fifa, meet in Dusseldorf on Monday aiming for a quarter-final showdown with Portugal or Slovenia.

France's vice-captain Griezmann, pivotal to their run to the 2022 World Cup final, has seen his form slump as Les Bleus have struggled for momentum.

France emerged from Group D undefeated but were beaten to top spot by Austria as they drew against the Netherlands and Poland following their opening 1-0 victory against the Austrians.

Griezmann paid the price for squandering a couple of excellent opportunities against the Dutch as he was dropped for the final game, with his manager Didier Deschamps saying: "It was a choice in relation to the options that I took.”

The 33-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder, playing in his sixth major tournament, has been something of a talisman for Deschamps.

The manager switched him from being a striker to a midfield playmaker, whose creativity allowed those in front of him to prosper.

Not since Euro 2016, when France lost the final as hosts, had Griezmann been omitted from the starting line-up in a major tournament game with something on the line. He has 44 goals in 132 internationals for France but has scored only two in his last 31 games for his country.

But Griezmann will hope that the lacklustre 1-1 draw with Poland in the final game could mean a return to the starting XI against Belgium.

"He's the type of player who can really change a team because he's so hard working and so technically gifted," Deschamps said earlier this year.

"Of course, his main responsibility isn't ball winning; his left foot is so wonderful, he creates great chances for others."

Austria 0 France 1 - player ratings

AUSTRIA RATINGS: Decent early save from Mbappe. No chance with France's goal. Just about got away with it when Mbappe mis-controlled in the box late in the first half. Reuters

Broke quickly to deliver a good cross-field ball into the box that Laimer wasted. Put in a few decent crosses. EPA

Good clearing header from dangerous Griezmann free kick. Muscular physical presence in the centre of defence. Strong as an ox. Great saving tackle on Kolo Muani. Mbappe's nose came off worst when it picked a fight with his shoulder late in the game. Getty Images

Booked for an industrial challenge on Dembele. Played some decent passes out from the back. Very poor positioning when he conceded the own goal. Reuters

A willing runner out wide. Booked for a foul on Dembele, who gave him plenty of grief. Careless pass to almost put Dembele in and he was subsequently skinned by Mbappe in the lead-up to France's goal. Kept grafting, though. AP

The creative fulcrum for Austria. Always looking for the ball and used it intelligently for the most part. EPA

Popped up everywhere. Neat and tidy in possession, dogged in the press, closed players down and won the ball back. When he had the ball, he didn't waste it. PA

Orchestrated things in midfield. Always looking to make something happen. Should have scored when presented with an absolute sitter by Sabitzer in the area but miskicked. Carried a constant attacking menace. AFP

Ran himself ragged up front. Made some clever runs and played some intelligent passes. A good game from the Borussia Dortmund man. EPA

Always busy. Forced a good save from Maignan. Gave the ball away carelessly more than once. AFP

Hit some decent crosses - including one superb centre to set up a chance 10 minutes before half time. EPA

SUBS: (On for Gregoritsch, 59'): The former West Ham man didn't contribute a great deal to the Austrian cause. Wasted possession several times. Getty Images

(On for Grillitsch, 60') A very lively introduction. Showed sharp footwork as he tried to dance into French box soon after coming on. Swung a dangerous free kick into box. Definitely increased Austria's threat levels. AP

(On for Wober, 59'): Didn't have a big effect on the game. PA

(On for Mwene, 88'): Little time to have much of an impact. Reuters

(On for Laimer, 91'). AP

FRANCE RATINGS: Wasn't found wanting when called into action. Got out quickly to save well from Baumgartner. Hurt when making a fearless save at the same player's feet. AP

Solid defensive shift. Not a great deal going forward in the first half - did hit a good ball to set Kolo Muani free late in the game. EPA

A strong showing: winning challenges using his power to good effect and generally tidying things up for France with little fuss. Getty Images

Classy and composed as you would expect from the Arsenal man. Combined well with Upamecano to snuff out a dangerous run into the box from Sabitzer. AFP

Always a threat with his pace and direct running. Whipped a tantalising ball across the face of goal early on. Hit another teasing centre that Griezmann couldn't quite reach to force into the net. Not too shabby in defence, either. PA

What a comeback from the Al Ittihad midfielder as he showed no signs of ring rust in his first international for nearly two years. He snapped at people's heels, won back possession and then slipped telling passes left right and centre. Made some good bursts forward. too. Sprinted back to make a brilliant tackle to rob Wimmer when he was almost through on goal late in the game. Colossal. AFP

A great steal and break to tee up Griezmann, who wasted a good position. Beautiful long ball to free Mbappe on the left wing. Had less impact as the game wore on. AP

Contributed some good work in defence. Lovely sequence of step-overs to create space for himself late on but then ballooned his shot high and wide when others were better-placed. Summed up his match. Getty Images

Showed some silky touches but was uncharacteristically wasteful with several free-kicks. Picked up a cut to his head when he was bundled into the advertising hoardings. Not a vintage night. Getty Images

Pacy going forward as you'd expect, unsettling the Austrian defence with his running and close control. Overhit a pass into box for Mbappe. Played a part in the build-up to Mbappe's goal. Alert defensively. AP

Scorching early break produced a shot that the keeper tipped into the side netting. Superb footwork to bamboozle Mwene and hit the cross that was headed into his own net by Wober. Might have done better when clear in the area just before the break. Missed an absolute sitter early in the second half. Wasteful by his high standards. Maybe due to nerves at the thought of scoring his first goal at the Euros. AFP

SUBS: (On for Dembele, 71'): Carried on where Dembele left off, with his electric running producing much the same effect - very little. Sloppy pass when in space on the edge of the box. Set up Giroud perfectly in six-yard box late on, though. AP

(On for Rabiot, 7'): Didn't trouble the proceedings greatly. Getty Images

(On for Mbappe, 90'): Missed an absolute sitter with an air shot from six yards out. PA

(for Griezmann, 91') EPA

Kylian Mbappe is again expected to play in the protective mask he wore against the Poles.

The Belgians, too, have come in for plenty of stick due to their performances so far in the tournament. They collected just four points in finishing second to Romania in Group E.

Disenchantment with their performances went up a notch after the 0-0 draw against Ukraine in their last game.

Belgium captain Kevin De Bruyne was leading the players towards the fans gathered behind one of the goals after the match, only to turn away when hearing the loud jeers coming from that end.

“I can understand they are frustrated with the performance but it’s not like we played three bad games, and we are qualified. So yeah, it’s a bit frustrating for us," said Belgium right-back Timothy Castagne.

France and Belgium met in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League, with the French winning both games.

In Monday's other last-16 match, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal take on Slovenia, who reached the knockout phase of a major tournament for the first time after finishing as one of the best third-placed teams, in Frankfurt.

Slovenia drew all three of their games against Denmark, Serbia and England in Group C.

Portugal won their first two games comfortably against the Czech Republic and Turkey before falling to a shock 2-0 defeat to Georgia in their final Group F game.