Six months have passed since Kylian Mbappé last donned the French national team jersey, but he’s now set to make his return to Didier Deschamps’ squad. This time, however, he’ll be donning a new role – that of team captain – as France takes on Croatia in a pair of Nations League quarterfinal matches on the 20th and 23rd. Deschamps confirmed the news during a press conference, stating, “I’ve already spoken with him, and I’ve told him he’ll be the captain.” The French coach also addressed the media obligations that come with being a high-profile player like Mbappé, noting that while the young star may not always be available for interviews, he’s aware of his responsibilities and will participate in the two scheduled press conferences.
Deschamps also provided an update on Mbappé’s physical condition, saying, “He played 120 minutes on Wednesday, and when you’re playing every three days, it’s not a problem. Sometimes, I prefer a player not to train if it means they can play later on.” The coach expressed hope that the upcoming weekend’s games would go smoothly for the called-up players and mentioned that he wasn’t aware of any potential issues.
The squad announcement also brought some exciting news – the inclusion of 19-year-old Désiré Doué, a talented young attacker from PSG. When asked about what Doué brings to the table, Deschamps replied, “Everything he’s been doing well with his club, which is interesting for us. I could have called him up later, but I’ve decided to do it now. He won’t be able to join the under-21 team this summer due to the Club World Cup.”
France’s Squad Announcement
The full list of called-up players includes:
- Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Brice Samba, and Lucas Chevalier
- Defenders: Jonathan Clauss, Lucas Digne, Théo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé, Benjamin Pavard, William Saliba, and Upamecano
- Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga, Matteo Guendouzi, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouameni, and Warren Zaire-Emery
- Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Randal Kolo Muani, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Marcus Thuram
As France prepares to face off against Croatia, all eyes will be on Mbappé as he takes on his new role as captain and leads his team into the Nations League quarterfinals. With a mix of experienced players and young talent, the French squad is looking to make a strong statement in the upcoming matches.