CLAIREFONTAINE-en-YVELINES
\nKylian Mbappe will take over as captain of France after Hugo Lloris stepped down following the World Cup final defeat to Argentina, a source close to the team has told AFP.
\nParis Saint-Germain forward Mbappe, 24, accepted the role after discussions with coach Didier Deschamps.
\nHis first game as captain will be Friday\u2019s Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands at the Stade de France, Les Bleus\u2019 first match since their World Cup final disappointment in Doha on December 18.
\nTottenham goalkeeper Lloris, 36, brought an end to his international career in January, in the weeks after Lionel Messi\u2019s Argentina side beat the French in a penalty shootout following a thrilling match that ended 3-3 in extra-time.
\nLloris had been skipper for more than a decade.
\nAtletico Madrid attacker Antoine Griezmann was named vice-captain after Manchester United centre-back Raphael Varane also hung up his boots following the defeat to Argentina in December.
\nMbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final defeat, had been heavily linked with the captain\u2019s role for weeks.
\nMichel Platini, who captained France to victory in the 1984 European Championship, said the decision was \u201ca very good idea\u201d.
\n\u201cIn giving him the responsibility of the captaincy, it allows Kylian, when necessary, to go still further, higher, stronger,\u201d Platini, the ex-head of European football\u2019s governing body UEFA, said in a statement to AFP.
\nMbappe helped Les Bleus to World Cup glory as a teenager in 2018 and has established himself as arguably the leading forward on the global stage.
\nThe Paris-born former Monaco player is vice-captain at PSG behind Brazilian defender Marquinhos and led the side in the defender\u00b4s absence during Sunday\u00b4s loss to Rennes.
\nMbappe has scored 19 goals in 24 Ligue 1 matches this season and contributed seven goals in PSG\u2019s run to the last 16 of the Champions League, where they were knocked out by Bayern Munich.
\nFrance are grouped with the Dutch, the Republic of Ireland, Greece and Gibraltar in their qualifying group for Euro 2024, to be held in Germany.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CLAIREFONTAINE-en-YVELINES Kylian Mbappe will take over as captain of France after Hugo Lloris stepped down following the World Cup final defeat to Argentina, a source close to the team has told AFP. Paris Saint-Germain forward Mbappe, 24, accepted the role after discussions with coach Didier Deschamps. His first game as captain will be Friday\u2019s Euro […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":321062,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-321050","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n