“Meets all requirements”
Kylian Mbappé will lead the French national team as captain. Selection coach Didier Deschamps appointed the 24-year-old offensive 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 resigning, had also had hopes.
Previous captain Lloris had resigned from the Équipe tricolore after losing the World Cup final against Argentina. Now Mbappé, who is twelve years younger, follows. “Kylian meets all the requirements to take on this responsibility,” said coach Deschamps in an interview with TV station “TF1”. According to Deschamps, Mbappé is a connecting element both on and off the pitch.
With Mbappé and Griezmann: top scorers in France’s history
Mbappé should already be wearing the captain’s armband at the start of the European Championship qualifiers next Friday in Paris against the Netherlands. The World Cup top scorer has scored 36 goals in his 66 international matches to date and was a member of the 2018 World Cup winning team.
After Mbappé decision: Griezmann allegedly upset
In addition to Mbappé, Griezmann from Atlético Madrid had also figured out a chance to be captain – apparently even quite concrete. But since he is now only to become Mbappé’s deputy, according to the newspaper “Le Figaro”, he is seriously considering resigning from the national team instead.
The striker, who has been 32 since 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 a nommé Kylian Mbappé comme nouveau ! ©️
Antoine Griezmann est le vice-capitaine #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/vWzh4nQaTe
— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) March 21, 2023
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