(Football news) Kylian Mbappe is now the French national team captain after Hugo Lloris retired from international football in January. The 24 year old has made 66 caps for France, making his senior debut in 2017 and winning the World Cup in 2018 followed by a finals defeat to Argentina in 2022. The French Football Federation (FFF) had confirmed that manager Didier Deschamps had named Mbappe as captain and Antoine Griezmann as vice-captain on social media on Tuesday.
Speaking to French TV channel TF1 in an interview, Didier Deschamps said “Kylian meets all the requirements to have this responsibility. On the field as in the life of the group, by being a unifying element.” Mbappe finished top scorer at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring a hattrick in the final against Argentina but losing out on penalties. He scored two goals in the 2018 final against Croatia and was named the best young player of the tournament as France went on to win the World Cup for the second time in their history.
However, Mbappe’s appointment as France’s captain is also a controversial one due to the presence of many senior and more experienced figures in the dressing room. Former Arsenal and France footballer Robert Pires said “Considering the longevity, the years gone by, I was expecting it to be Griezmann who was nominated. I am surprised. It is the strong man of Didier [Deschamps] , the one who counts the most, who has the most tenures in a row. It’s a lack of respect for Antoine I find even if, I insist, I have nothing against Kylian. We must not forget what Antoine did at the last World Cup, where he was the best and the most consistent.”
Former UEFA President Michel Platini said “It’s a very good idea from Didier Deschamps. By giving him the responsibility of the captaincy, he allows Kylian – if necessary – to go even further, higher, stronger. It’s very rewarding for a team to highlight this player. It’s emblematic to give them the armband because they are the standard bearers. He’s a personality of now, with the way of seeing players of now, ambition, determination. He has this way of approaching matches in a way that is perhaps more detached, but with the same conviction. He will be in phase with the other players.”
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