New France boss Zidane confirms Mbappe as captain after naming first squad
Zinedine Zidane has been appointed as the new coach of the French national football team and has named Kylian Mbappe as his captain. The squad includes several new faces as they prepare for upcoming UEFA Nations League matches.
Why it matters
The appointment of a legendary figure like Zidane and the selection of a new captain signals a significant shift in the leadership and strategy of the French national team.
Zinedine Zidane confirmed on Friday that Kylian Mbappe would be his France captain after naming his first squad since being appointed as the successor to Didier Deschamps as coach of Les Bleus.
Real Madrid superstar Mbappe shone in his role as skipper at the World Cup and finished as the tournament's top scorer with 10 goals, although France were beaten by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.
That brought the curtain down on the 14-year reign as coach of Deschamps, the highlight of which was the World Cup triumph in 2018. Zidane, who played alongside Deschamps in the France sides that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, was unveiled at the end of July as the new coach on a four-year contract.
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