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Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is set to captain France during their Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium. The news comes after fellow Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe opted out of the national team games this month. Tchouameni has long been a trusted figure for Didier Deschamps since making his debut for Les Bleus in 2021.
The midfielder has made 36 appearances for the national team so far and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Nations League in 2021 and finished as runners-up in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
It now appears that Tchouameni will take the armband ahead of both Jules Kounde and Mike Maignan, who were also considered strong candidates to assume the role in Mbappe’s absence.
For the Los Blancos midfielder, this is a significant responsibility, one he considers a source of great pride. Les Bleus will first face Israel on Thursday, October 10, before taking on Belgium on Monday, October 14, to close out the October international break.
"It’s a great pride and responsibility. We had a discussion with the coach and he told me about this decision. I am very happy, Tchouameni said after being handed the responsibility," he said (via Fabrizio Romano).
Tchouameni spoke during the press conference ahead of France’s opening game and suggested that the national team has entered a new chapter. Several members of their ‘Golden Generation’ - who won the World Cup and Nations League - announcing their retirements.
With Mbappe absent, it will also be the first time Deschamps names a squad without any players from the team that won the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Kylian Mbappe faces criticism from former France defender after choosing to sit out Nations League games
Mbappe’s decision to withdraw from the squad for the upcoming games has certainly raised eyebrows, especially since he returned from a muscle injury earlier than expected. The forward came off the bench for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League match against Lille and started in last week’s game against Villarreal.
Former France defender Maxime Bossis has consequently criticized the 25-year-old for prioritizing club over country.
“Either you’re injured, and you don’t play with your club and you’re not called up in the national team. But when you come off the bench in the Champions League and you start a league game, it makes things fuzzy. He’s a special player. We’ve known that with Michel Platini, when we still wanted him with us when he was injured," he said (via Cyprus Mail).
Didier Deschamps, however, has stated that the decision to release a player ultimately lies with the club, acknowledging that there can be differing interests between club and country.
"Kylian embodies a lot of things... The interests of the clubs and the interests of the national teams inevitably diverge. We must also remember that the employer is the club, not the federation," he said (via Cyprus Mail).
Mbappe will undoubtedly be a significant absence but France have the talent to effectively replace him and secure positive results in their upcoming two games.
