France’s new captaincy decision has left former World Cup and European Championship winner, Robert Pirès, puzzled.
The French Football Federation has appointed Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe as the new captain for Les Bleus, with Antoine Griezmann being the vice-captain.
According to reports, Mbappe was informed of his appointment by coach Didier Deschamps after a dinner and will lead the team in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
However, Pirès does not believe that Mbappe was the logical choice for the position, and expressed his surprise at the decision.
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“A logical choice? Honestly, no. Considering his longevity, what he’s done down the years, I was expecting it to be Griezmann.
“Antoine is Didier’s stalwart, the one with the most caps in a row (74). It’s a lack of respect towards Antoine. Although I must stress I have nothing against Kylian.“
Pirès suggested that the captaincy should have been given to Griezmann until Euro 2024 before handing it to Mbappé in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. He praised Griezmann’s performance at the last World Cup, where he was the best and most consistent player.
The decision to appoint Mbappe over Griezmann has reportedly caused tension, with reports suggesting that Griezmann is considering retiring from international football.
