After the retirement of Hugo Lloris and Raphael Varane, who will be the next captain of the Blues? Didier Deschamps gave some clues on the sidelines of the announcement of the Blues who will face the Netherlands and Ireland on March 24 and 27.
Mbappé, Griezmann or another? Didier Deschamps was asked about the position of captain of the France team this Thursday, March 16, on the sidelines of the announcement of his list of 23 selected for the Euro 2024 qualifiers. As usual, the coach of the Bleus has delivered the minimum of clues to the identity of the successor to Hugo Lloris, who decided to hang up after 121 games on the clock, a record.
“There are some that I consider possible. Obviously, Kylian is one of them. It will go through discussions with them, before I make my decision. There is a responsibility in relation to being captain”, shyly advanced Didier Deschamps when the Mbappé option was mentioned. Also asked about the possibility of offering the armband to Adrien Rabiot, Deschamps acknowledged a “certain experience”, but quickly dismissed this possibility: “We know each other well. He has a form of leadership, but from there to what he can… I don’t know if he really wants it by nature too. That he stays as he is.”
Only one thing seems certain about the future captain of the Blues: Didier Deschamps intends to make a long-term choice, preferring “to have a stable captain and vice-captain”, a “well-defined choice” rather than rotating the armband according to the matches. and the circumstances.
World champion in 2018, vice-world champion in 2022, Hugo Lloris has decided to hang up with the Blues and let the new generation take over, leaving his captain’s armband that he has worn since 2011. If Raphael Varane, vice captain , could legitimately take over from him, the Manchester United defender also announced his international retirement after the 2022 World Cup. The place of captain of the Blues therefore remains to be taken.
During his interview with Figaro on March 11, the current coach had already explained that several players could claim the captaincy like Kylian Mbappé, vice captain of PSG and Antoine Griezmann, but that consultation will be done with them. “I know who can be and can’t be (he smiles). I would have discussions with some of them. I’m ahead of you because you’re going to ask me the question: is Kylian (Mbappé ) can be? Yes, of course. Antoine Griezmann can also be in relation to his experience. The decision will be made during the training camp in March. I want to hear the feelings of the players concerned.”
Hugo Lloris also gave his opinion a few weeks ago in the columns of L’Equipe and believes that Kylian Mbappé is a real contender for this armband. “He showed strong leadership during this World Cup and even more during the final. There is a kind of handover between players who are in the last phase of their career and a new generation at the head of which find Kylian.”
In a poll published by L’Equipe in January 2023 after the World Cup, 36% of respondents wanted to see Kylian Mbappé as the next captain, ahead of Antoine Griezmann 30%, Raphaël Varane 28% while 6% hope to see another player wear the cuff. If Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann are considered the big favorites, let’s not forget either an Olivier Giroud who wants to play until Euro 2024 and who became the Blues’ top scorer during the 2022 World Cup.
