The France team will play, against the Netherlands this Friday, March 24, its first match since the final lost against Argentina in Qatar. It’s a new beginning, a new era which begins after the retirement of three executives, the advent of Kylian Mbappé as captain, and the emergence of Randal Kolo Muani.
A page really turned for the French team on the evening of December 18, 2022 and the final lost against Argentina. Three months later, many of the main actors are no longer there, others will have a new, bigger role. There was the sudden departure of the president of the Federation, Noel Le Graetbut on the ground, it is the “retirement” of executives like Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda and Raphaël Varane who undoubtedly marks a break and launches a new era in almost all positions, particularly behind.
A dividing armband?
Among the goalkeepers, Mike Maignan, 27, will thus inherit the status of N.1 goalkeeper in the France team. The former Lille goalkeeper, now at AC Milan, had missed the World Cup in Qatar due to injury. He already appears to be irremovable while waiting for Didier deschanmps to decide on number 2 between Alphonse Areola, often called, and Brice Samba who is on the list of Blues for the first time in his career.
In defense, the main project could be the replacement of Raphael Varane who decided to retire at 29. But Ibrahima Konaté and Dayot Upamecano have shown that they can provide the axis of defense and take over from the former Real Madrid player.
The other revolution among the Blues is undoubtedly the captain’s armband which will now be worn by Kylian Mbappé. The 24-year-old striker (66 caps, 36 goals), technical leader in the field and whose voice also carries in the locker room, was chosen to replace Hugo Lloris. Logical choice, but which would still have made teeth cringe, particularly those of Antoine Griezmann, “promoted” vice-captain.
“RKM” or “Super Giroud”?
At the front, when it was necessary to defend the management of collective image rights or Zinédine Zidane, “attacked” by the president of the FFF, the PSG player will certainly not find the armband too heavy for him.
The new captain is waiting to find out who he will be associated with in attack: the indestructible Olivier Giroud (36 years old) or the promising Randal Kolo Muani? “RKM” called at the last moment as reinforcements for the World Cup, replacing Nkunku, knocked very hard at the door of the attack. Author of a goal in the tournament, where he missed the title ball at the end of the game against Argentina, the former Nantes player saw his rating in blue grow at breakneck speed. “I don’t give him an indisputable starting label, but he has more arguments in his favor today than before the World Cup “says Didier Deschamps.
With Maignan and Mbappé, Kolo Muani will surely be one of the most scrutinized players against the Countries this Friday at 7:45 p.m. UT for the launch of the Euro 2024 qualifiers.