Speaking to Europe 1, France’s record all-time goalscorer Olivier Giroud (36) has given his opinion on Kylian Mbappé’s (24) appointment as skipper of Les Bleus. As exclusively revealed by Get French Football News last month, the PSG forward was the leading candidate to take over the captain’s armband following the international retirements of Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane. Giroud, the oldest player of France’s squad, knows Mbappé quite well because both have struck a good understanding on the pitch during the 2022 World Cup. The AC Milan player excelled as the target man for Mbappé to run into space with devastating effect.
Giroud says he was pleased to see Mbappé given the armband and follow in the footsteps of France’s footballing greats such as Michel Platini, Zinédine Zidane or Didier Deschamps. “He showed that he was a leader. It will give him more responsibilities but he relishes that. He will be different from Hugo [Lloris]”. Even if Mbappé is still only 24, his record with Les Bleus spans over six brilliant years, in which he won the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League, raking 36 goals in 66 caps. “He acts as link between the old and the new generation”, assessed Giroud. I can only wish him to have fun and to guide this new crop.”
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
