Didier Deschamps handed Kylian Mbappe the armband as the new captain of France for the Euro 2024 qualifiers, and he vowed to be “a different captain” than his longtime predecessor Hugo Lloris.
“We have key players on our team, but I don’t have much experience as a leader. I don’t want to make any decisions or demands on anyone, “. On the eve of France’s home match against the Netherlands, the 24-year-old informed reporters on Thursday.
“We are a united group and we have shown that when we are all pulling together we can do great things. It would be an error for me to shake all that up.”
“I am not going to change. People listen to what I have to say in the dressing room. I just need to use my words in the right way.” He added
After more than a decade of serving as France’s captain, experienced goalkeeper Lloris retired from international service following France’s march to the World Cup final in Doha at the end of the previous year. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar has since taken over the armband.
Antoine Griezmann, who has 117 caps for Atletico Madrid and is 32 years old, was passed over by Deschamps despite being a more experienced player.
Mbappe’s assistant will now be Griezmann.
“I spoke to Antoine because he was disappointed and frankly it is understandable,” Mbappe said.
“I told him that I might have reacted in the same way. What I told him was that as long as I am captain and he is vice captain, I won’t be superior to him.
“He has an experience of playing for France that I don’t have. He is held in high esteem and is liked by the whole squad so it would be a shame for us not benefit from his experience, and his zest for life as well.”
READ ALSO: ‘I’m a better man now,’ reflects Cristiano Ronaldo
‘Something to enjoy’
Mbappe avoided the media for the majority of the World Cup, finishing with eight goals after netting an incredible hat-trick in the championship game.
He argued that it won’t be a problem even though he will now be required to speak before every game.
“Everyone acts differently as a captain depending on their personality. I am not like Hugo and Hugo is not like me,” Mbappe said.
“I don’t think the coach made me captain thinking I would be the same as Hugo.”
France will travel to the Republic of Ireland on Monday after playing the Netherlands at the Stade de France on Friday.
Gibraltar and Greece are also in their Euro 2024 qualifying group.
A sickness spread through the Dutch team’s camp, leaving them without a number of players, notably Cody Gakpo of Liverpool and Matthijs de Ligt of Bayern Munich.
According to Dutch media accounts, food poisoning could have been the root of the problem.
READ ALSO: 8 Money Making Websites for Everyone
Author
