“He has the profile to take on this responsibility through his experience even though he is still young, justified the coach about his background of 24 years and 36 selections, the third highest total in the group behind Ousmane Dembélé’s 51 and Lucas Digne’s 47. He participated in the last World Cup and the last Euro. This should not change the player he is but it is another step for him. He is obviously not alone because other players can have leadership: Mike (Maignan), Jules (Koundé), Ibou (Konate). There are other forms of leadership as well.”
French team: why Antoine Griezmann says stop
Among the four players cited by the technician, the Madrilenian appears in any case to be the one who ticks the most boxes. More comfortable in front of the media than a Maignan who is reluctant to express himself but also more consensual than the goalkeeper who had strong words last month by evoking the starlet behavior of certain people without citing anyone even if Mbappé could necessarily feel concerned, Tchouaméni also has a higher sporting credit than Koundé or Konaté. The unanimity of the Barcelona player, long criticized, dates from the Euro when the Liverpool defender was a victim of the advent of William Saliba. Which makes him the man for the job in a team which is looking for bosses after losing Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane or Olivier Giroud before Antoine Griezmann.
“There is a generation that has stopped, a golden generation that has done a lot. There is a generation that is emerging. We need to take more responsibility, that we try to write our history together”explained the one who will be the 132nd captain in the history of the Blues and for whom “being a leader is someone who brings people together and listens. It’s important not to worry. It’s an honor, a pride. Something you dream of as a child. But the most important thing is to win these two matches.” The most famous wearer of the armband, Hugo Lloris, 121 captains, would not have concluded otherwise.
