Absent from an international gathering for the second time in two months, Kylian Mbappé remains the hottest topic within the France team. This Monday, the newspaper L’Équipe indicated that the coach of the Blues intended to have a discussion with his star about the captain’s armband.
Can Mbappé be downgraded in 2025? The hypothesis is starting to gain weight, as the former Parisian is so debated in this important role. Often critical of the attacker, Johan Micoud pointed out the responsibility of Didier Deschamps in this situation.
Deschamps’ big mistake
For the 2000 European champion, Deschamps should have given the captain’s armband to Antoine Griezmann after the international retirement of Hugo Lloris. “I find that the reasoning should have been the opposite. Because Griezmann is not at all on the downward slope after the World Cup. He is the best player in the selection. So we should have given (the armband) to Griezmann first while preparing Mbappé for the future. “, thundered Micoud in L’Équipe du Soir.
Johan Micoud believes that this choice of Didier Deschamps created a clear break with Antoine Griezmann. “Because you know very well that Griezmann is not going to play ten more years. He will play for two years or maybe even go, if everything had gone well at the Euro he might have gone to the World Cup. I think that’s how it should have been done, especially when we see the ability of the two players in a group… Mbappé is not someone who will bring the whole team with him. I think Griezmann would have been capable of it. If Griezmann had had it, maybe Griezmann would still be here. I think there was a real break after not having the armbar. I think psychologically he kept it in the way even though he didn’t say anything. »
