If the identity of the captain of the Blues was in no doubt, that of Kylian Mbappé’s lieutenants remained to be confirmed. According to the newspaper The Teamthere are three of them. Zinédine Zidane has chosen to make Ousmane Dembélé (67 caps, 13 goals) his first vice-captain. A new role for the Ballon d’Or, which had not known this function under the orders of Didier Deschamps.
Adrien Rabiot (66 caps, 7 goals), also not used to this role under the orders of the former coach, will be the second. Jules Koundé (56 caps) completes the quartet after having already been part of Didier Deschamps’ vice-captains. A choice which responds to a logic of seniority, like what can be done in Spain explains RMC Sport. For the moment, neither Mike Maignan, nor Ibrahima Konaté, nor Dayot Upamecano will take on this role. Aurélien Tchouameni was absent from this gathering. The Madrilenian was number 2 on the armband at the end of the mandate of the previous coach. As a reminder, the Blues will play four Nations League matches during this break: against Turkey, this Friday, against Belgium, on September 28 and October 5, and against Italy, on October 2.
