Atletico Madrid: Antoine Griezmann Has Most to Prove in International Week

La Liga is barely up and running, and already the top clubs have to rein in their early season form, taking a break from domestic action this weekend as the international fixture list takes over.

For Atletico Madrid, the likes of Koke and Juanfran are off to represent the Spanish national team, new striker Jackson Martinez is in action for Colombia and Jan Oblak will continue to battle as he tries to become the Slovenian No. 1. The player with the most to prove on the international stage at this point, though, is perhaps Antoine Griezmann.

Atleti's top scorer last year, Griezmann has so far managed five goals in 18 caps for France and is an established part of the squad—but he now also has an opportunity to be seen as a pivotal first-choice attacker.

Club to Country

Griezmann was already on the national team's radar well before making his senior debut, but a year-long ban incurred at under-21 level for a nighttime transgression meant he only made his first national-team appearance three months before the 2014 World Cup. He went on to play a big part at that tournament but changed clubs from Real Sociedad to Atletico Madrid immediately afterward.

Since then, of course, his role has also changed, from goalscoring winger to first-choice centre-forward.

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The alteration of role and responsibility has seen Griezmann thrive, emerging as one of La Liga's top attacking talents who is already among the goals this season—scoring one and assisting two in Atleti's opening pair of fixtures.

His usual position for France is as one of the two wide attackers in Didier Deschamps' 4-3-3, rather than through the centre where he now plays for Atletico.

France Options

The lineup for France both before and during the World Cup more often than not saw Griezmann and Mathieu Valbuena either side of Karim Benzema. That trio remains in the latest squad, with Olivier Giroud still the second in command behind Benzema.

The additional offensive threats are made up by Nabil Fekir and Anthony Martial—Manchester United's new, uncapped signing who could eventually cost €80 million—while Alexandre Lacazette, Dimitri Payet and Paul-Georges Ntep have also been considerations recently.

So what does Griezmann have to prove? He's a more (domestically) established name than most of those, is regularly in the Champions League and outscored every one of those names except Lacazette last term.

It depends, in part, on how key he wants to be to the team.

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There is little chance that he won't remain a first pick from the flank, most frequently the left; although, used as inside forwards, a combination of Lacazette on the left and Griezmann on the right would appear to be an attractive proposition, too. However, Griezmann has proved himself (and must continue to do so this season) as a fantastic talent centrally, too, so can he also push for that No. 9 role?

He'd certainly be capable. Leading the line alone is something he did from time to time last season, though, of course, Atleti more frequently play with two up front, and France always get plenty of support from the wide threats as well. Benzema, it should be remembered, has played from one side for France a number of times as Deschamps attempts to get both he and Giroud into the same team.

It's not inconceivable that another 25-plus goal season for Griezmann could alter Deschamps' thinking enough to accommodate Benzema rather than make him the focal point of the attack.

Euro 2016

Barring injury, it seems extremely unlikely that Griezmann will be left out of the French squad for the Euros, which France themselves are hosting.

They will, along with World Cup holders Germany and the other usual couple of big-name nations, be one of the favourites to win the tournament, especially with their array of attacking talent.

Just how much Griezmann contributes remains to be seen, but he certainly has the ability and consistency to be one of the key players—especially if he heads into Euro 2016 in confident form off the back of a successful season with his club.

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