In advance of France’s Euro 2024 qualifying matches, manager Didier Deschamps is said to have chosen Kylian Mbappe as the new captain.
France will be led by Mbappe
Before, Hugo Lloris held the armband.
The other candidate was Antoine Griezmann.
Hugo Lloris, the former captain of Les Bleus, retired from international football after the 2022 World Cup, and Deschamps was tasked with replacing him.
ESPN reports that the manager told the French team Monday night that Mbappe will wear the captain’s hat.
The superstar of Paris Saint-Germain, who made 66 appearances for his nation and scored 36 goals, is expected to be introduced as the next captain of France on Thursday.
According to ESPN, Deschamps spoke with Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, who was the other candidate for the position, on Monday at Clairefontaine, the French team’s training facility, before announcing his choice to the rest of the team.
The forward for Atletico Madrid will serve as vice captain.
Mbappe has already captained France once, against Denmark, in a Nations League match in September.
On the strength of his outstanding 2022 World Cup performance, Deschamps is certain that the 24-year-old has grown enough to lead the team, making him one of the youngest leaders in Les Bleus history.
Lloris carried the armband for France for 14 years, from 2008 until 2022, making him one of the captains with the longest tenure.
The 2024 European Championship qualifier between France and the Netherlands will mark the beginning of Mbappe’s tenure as France’s national team captain.
