Griezmann Joins Ballack In Two European Losses In A Single Season

Antoine Griezmann has had a better 2016 than any other player in terms of performance but at the end of the current campaign, he won nothing as the same thing happened to Michael Ballack in 2008.

The 2016 Champions League saw Griezmann score vital goals against FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich, two of the favorites. Griezmann was not done as he missed a penalty in the final but converted his spot kick in the penalty shootout as Atletico Madrid lost 4-5 to city rivals Real Madrid C.F.

The Euro came calling and Griezmann bagged six goals in matches against Albania, two goals in the Round of 16 against Republic of Ireland, one goal against over-achievers Iceland and two goals against World Champions Germany.

Griezmann lost the Euro final to Portugal on Sunday thanks to an Eder strike in the second half of extra time.

Michael Ballack won it all with Bayern Munich and followed it up with laurels at Chelsea but European glory eluded him.

Ballack had previously lost both the World Cup and Champions League in 2002 but six years on and 2008 provided him with another opportunity. Chelsea played an intense final against Manchester United in Moscow and lost in a penalty shootout.

Austria and Switzerland hosted Euro 2008 and Ballack captained Germany to the final but Germany lost 0-1 thanks to a Fernando Torres strike.

Griezmann and Ballack Share the Same Grief Eight Years Apart

They both played in a drawn game that ended 1-1. Both matches ended in a penalty shootout and both players took their teams first penalties and they both scored.

In the Uefa Euro, they both lost to a solitary goal.

Ballack has retired but Griezmann is still playing and he would need to psyche himself thoroughly to take Atletico Madrid to new heights.

Ballack and Griezmann are from two different countries but have the same story.