Coquelin and Griezmann to be reunited on Saturday

They will meet again on the pitch this Saturday when Valencia CF host FC Barcelona, but it is almost a decade since Francis Coquelin and Antoine Griezmann first got to know each other, when playing for the France Under-19s side. Coquelin was at FC Lorient, on loan from Arsenal, whilst Griezmann was part of a Real Sociedad side in Spain's Segunda División.

The two would win the Under-19s European Championships together in 2010, after beating a Spain team that featured Rodrigo in their ranks (he would score their goal in the final).

Coquelin was one of the standouts in the French squad, and was given several nicknames by Arsenal colleague Thierry Henry for his ability to steal the ball from opposition players: ‘The French Policeman’, ‘Colombo’ and ‘Detective' were just some of those invented by the legendary striker for the promising midfielder.

Coquelin and Griezmann were part of a brilliant 'Class of 91', which would go on to win the 2018 World Cup with a group of players brought up from youth level together. It was a generation of players described as "A breath of fresh air for French football" by Frédéric Thiriez, the French league president between 2002 and 2016.

When they have gone up against one another, on just two occasions, it has been Griezmann who has been on the winning side. Coquelin will look to change that at Mestalla on Saturday, when Valencia CF host FC Barcelona.

Photos. FIFA