France Football Captain: According to reports, Antoine Griezmann is feeling “upset and hurt” after being passed over for the France football team captaincy in favour of Kylian Mbappe. The decision was officially made by Les Blues coach Didier Deschamps. He selected the 24-year-old Mbappe to replace Hugo Lloris as the team’s captain. Follow France vs Netherlands LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Lloris had retired from international football following France’s defeat to Argentina in the World Cup final. Despite playing in 73 consecutive games for France and earning a total of 117 international appearances, Griezmann did not get the nod. Mbappe was chosen for the prestigious role ahead of the team’s opening Euro 2024 qualifying match against the Netherlands.
Didier Deschamps has announced that Kylian Mbappé becomes the captain of France national team. 24 years old and making history.🚨🔵🇫🇷 #France
“Antoine Griezmann is the vice-captain. Kylian ticks all the boxes to have this responsibility”, Deschamps said. pic.twitter.com/XRHyI9vdoV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 21, 2023
“Kylian Mbappe is the new France captain,” Deschamps declared via TF1.
“Antoine Griezmann is the vice-captain. Kylian ticks all the boxes to have this responsibility. On the pitch as well as within the squad, by being a key element.”
Le Figaro, a French outlet, reports that after Deschamps informed the team during a Monday evening meal that Mbappe would be the new captain. Griezmann was left devastated by the decision, which has been widely debated.
There are even rumours that the 32-year-old is contemplating leaving the international team after the decision. Griezmann had been dreaming of leading his country. However, if Griezmann follows the footsteps of Lloris, Raphael Varane and Steve Mandanda, it would be a significant loss for the team.
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“I’m going to use these first few days with the group to discuss it with the players concerned,” the seasoned coach, who extended his contract with the French Football Federation in January for another three and a half years, disclosed this information.
“Obviously, Kylian is one of those players. So, you’ll know a bit more the next time I see you.”
Elaborating on the PSG striker’s qualities as reporters probed for more detail, Deschamps said: “I think if he has one quality, in addition to all his other qualities, it’s that he’s someone who is pretty good, very good at communication. So, I don’t think that’s a problem on that side.”
Hugo Lloris backed Kylian Mbappe
During a recent interview with Telefoot, Hugo Lloris, the player with the most appearances for France, gave a strong endorsement of Mbappe’s leadership abilities, endorsing him as his successor. “Kylian Mbappe is a player who is growing in every way, on and off the pitch, and even in the functioning of the dressing room,” the goalkeeper stated emphatically.
Although Griezmann has missed out on the captaincy, he has been given the role of vice-captain and will be starting alongside Mbappe in Friday’s game at the Stade de France as France begins its qualifying campaign for next summer’s European Championships, which will be hosted in Germany. The game will be against the Netherlands in Paris.
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