« Meets all requirements »
Kylian Mbappé will lead the France team as captain. National team coach Didier Deschamps has named the 24-year-old attacking player from Paris Saint-Germain to succeed Hugo Lloris, as the French association announced on Tuesday. Antoine Griezmann, who according to a report is disappointingly considering quitting, had also been harboring hopes.
Former captain Lloris had resigned from the French team after losing the World Cup final against Argentina. Now Mbappé, who is twelve years younger, is following. « Kylian meets all the conditions to assume this responsibility, » said coach Deschamps in an interview with « TF1 ». According to Deschamps, Mbappé is a connecting element both on and off the pitch.
With Mbappé and Griezmann: top scorers in the history of France
Mbappé is already expected to wear the captain’s armband at the start of next Friday’s European Championship qualifiers in Paris against the Netherlands. The World Cup top scorer has scored 36 goals in his 66 international appearances so far and was a member of the 2018 World Cup winning squad.
After Mbappé’s decision: Griezmann would be upset
In addition to Mbappé, Atlético Madrid’s Griezmann had also imagined a chance to be captain – apparently even quite concrete. But as he becomes only Mbappé’s assistant, according to ‘Le Figaro’ newspaper, he is seriously considering resigning from the national team instead.
The striker, who turned 32 on Tuesday, wants to wait for the two international matches against the Netherlands (March 24) and Ireland (March 27) and then make a decision.
Didier Deschamps named Kylian Mbappé as new! ©️
Antoine Griezmann is vice-captain #ProudToBeBlues pic.twitter.com/vWzh4nQaTe
– French team (@equipedefrance) March 21, 2023
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