Zinedine Zidane announced on Friday that Kylian Mbappé will be the captain of the French national team. This came after he presented his first squad since being appointed as the new national team coach, replacing Didier Deschamps.
Real star Mbappé demonstrated outstanding play in the role of captain at the World Cup, becoming the tournament's top scorer with ten goals, although France lost to future champions Spain in the semi-finals.
This concluded Deschamps' fourteen-year tenure, which culminated in the triumph at the 2018 World Cup. Zidane, who played alongside Deschamps for the French team that won titles at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, was appointed as the new coach on a four-year contract at the end of July.
Zidane's first matches as a manager will take place within the UEFA Nations League. He will start with a trip to Turkey next Friday, followed by a match against Belgium in Brussels on September 28. His first home match under his guidance is scheduled for October 2 against Italy at the Stade de France, after which his team will host Belgium three days later.
The 54-year-old former Ballon d'Or winner, Zidane, who ended his playing career in 2006 after a header goal red card by Marco Materazzi in that year's World Cup final, which France lost to Italy on penalties, included a number of new players in his first squad.
Central defender Jeremy Jaké, aged 21, was included in the team in recognition of his performances for Liverpool after joining the Premier League club during the closed season. Rennes forward Esteban Lepol, last season's Ligue 1 top scorer, received his first call-up, and Lucas Da Cunha from Como in Serie A took up a midfield spot. Also included in the squad were midfielder or wing-back Andy Diouf from Inter Milan and goalkeeper Guillaume Rest from Toulouse.
Among the notable players who participated in the World Cup but were not selected are Real midfielder Aurien Tchouameni, Inter forward Marcus Thuram, and Arsenal defender William Saliba, who is injured.
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Robin Reusser (Lille), Guillaume Rest (Toulouse). Defenders: Andy Diouf (Inter Milan/ITA), Jeremy Jaké (Liverpool/ENG), Ibrahima Konaté (Real Madrid/ESP), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus/ITA), Jules Koundé (Barcelona/ESP), Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea/ENG), Adrien Truffier (Bournemouth/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER). Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City/ENG), Lucas Da Cunha (Como/ITA), Manu Koné (Roma/ITA), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan/ITA), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG). Forwards: Bradley Barcola (Liverpool/ENG), Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué (both PSG), Esteban Lepol (Rennes), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid/ESP), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER).