By Samuel A. March 24, 2023
Kylian Mbappe was named as the new captain of the French national team after Hugo Lloris’ retirement from international football. Antoine Griezmann will be the vice-captain, despite reports on Tuesday suggesting he was questioning his international future after being snubbed for the captaincy. Mbappe, the top scorer at last year’s World Cup, where France finished as runners-up to Argentina, is set to lead the side during the country’s upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers. The 24-year-old has scored 36 goals in 66 caps for Les Bleus since making his debut in 2017, putting him sixth on their all-time list of top goalscorers. Having also netted 12 times at just two World Cups, he is only four goals behind former Germany striker Miroslav Klose – who is the top scorer in the tournament’s history.
The captain’s armband was vacant for Les Bleus after Tottenham’s goalkeeper Lloris announced his retirement from international duty following the World Cup. Mbappe’s selection as Captain reportedly upset Griezmann, who was left ‘hurt’ at being overlooked for the role, according to sources. The 32 year old who has racked up 117 caps for his country since making his debut in 2014, scoring 42 goals, has been a very loyal and reliable player for manager Didier Deschamps. During the World Cup in Qatar at the end of last year, Griezmann even said: “I give everything for France and for Deschamps.”
The attacker has become a leader of the French team over recent years and showed his quality with displays in Qatar from a deeper midfield role, but the report stated he was unhappy at the decision to give Mbappe the armband. For Deschamps, it is reported he viewed Mbappe as a choice of ‘legitimacy’, perhaps due to his personality, performances in Qatar and the fact he is younger and likely to be a firm part of France’s team for the next decade, however, Griezmann felt his international experience, along with his loyalty to Deschamps and the fact he would be a less divisive choice among the French squad meant he should have been chosen. He has also discovered a new lease of life over recent months with Atletico where he has been in fine form. Sources also stated Griezmann did not hide his feelings after being snubbed for the role.
Mbappe has represented Les Bleus in three international tournaments, with the PSG forward winning the ‘Best Young Player Award’ during France’s triumph in Russia in 2018. He then missed the decisive penalty in the last-16 of Euro 2020 as France crashed out to Switzerland in a shootout. Mbappe then dazzled in Qatar, where he won the Golden Boot with eight goals, which included helping France come from 2-0 and 3-2 down against Argentina in the final before they lost on penalties.
Mbappe, when asked about the reaction of Griezmann, said:: “Yes, I spoke with Antoine Griezmann because he was disappointed. And frankly, that’s understandable. He is 32 years old, he spent 10 years in the France team. He was one or THE most important player of the Didier Deschamps era. So it’s normal”. He continued, “I told him that I would have had the same reaction, he is perhaps the most important player of the Deschamps era. I am not his superior. We will be hand in hand with him and me to try to make this French team reign at the world level. If he has something to say in front of the group, I sit down and listen. We must not close the door to anyone, everyone is free to express his idea”.
France have been drawn alongside the Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, Greece and Gibraltar in Group B of qualification for Euro 2024.
