XtraTime Web Desk: Uruguay face France in the World Cup quarter finals and French talisman Antoine Griezmann has declared that he has a special bond with the South American country.
His empathy with Uruguayan people kicked off in the Basque country and has followed him until now.
“Uruguay is my second country,” he told.
“It’s a nation and people that I love and I have many friends there.’’
“It’s going to be a great game to play in and a really emotional experience too.”
During his spell at Real Sociedad, the then coach of the Basques, Martin Lasarte was his supportive pillar that helped the Frenchman adapt to Spanish football.
It was at San Sebastian, where he also met one of his closest friends, Carlos Bueno, who introduced him to the traditional Latin American infused drink, Mate.
His subsequent move to Atletico Madrid was recommended by Diego Godin, another Uruguayan who also became the godfather of his Atleti teammate’s daughter.
On the contrary, Luis Suarez from Barcelona, however, is not buying into it and says the player does not understand what it means to be from his home country.
“Antoine is saying that he is half-Uruguayan but he is French and he doesn’t know what it is to feel Uruguayan,” he said.
“He doesn’t know who we are or what we must do to be successful in football. He enjoys our customs and can speak the same language, but we feel differently.”