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Kylian Mbappé announced as France new captain, and Antoine Griezmann has been appointed vice-captain.
Didier Deschamps has chosen Kylian Mbappe the new captain of the French national team and Antoine Griezmann (32) the vice-captain ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifying matches.
Hugo Lloris, the former captain of Les Bleus, retired from international football after the 2022 World Cup, and Deschamps was entrusted with replacing him. ESPN,reports that the manager told the French team Monday night that Mbappe will wear the captain’s armband.
The superstar of Paris Saint-Germain, who had 36 goals in 66 international games, was named the new captain of France on Tuesday after Deschamps made his choice known in an interview with Telefoot.
“Kylian Mbappe is the new captain of the Blues. Antoine Griezmann is the vice-captain,” he said. “Kylian meets all the boxes to have this responsibility. On the field as in group life, by being a unifying element.”
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Before informing the rest of the team of his decision, Deschamps reportedly talked with Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann on Monday at Clairefontaine, the training facility for the French team.
Mbappe has previously captained France once, against Denmark, in a Nations League match in September.
He will now be one of the youngest captains in Les Bleus history, with Deschamps sure that the 24-year-old has grown enough to lead the team following his spectacular performance at the 2022 World Cup.
Lloris served as France’s captain for 14 years, from 2008 to 2022, making him one of the country’s longest-serving captains.
In a 2024 European Championship qualifying match on Friday at the Stadium de France against the Netherlands, Mbappe’s tenure as France’s national team captain and Antoine Griezmann the vice-captain will begin.