France are set to have a different captain after Kylian Mbappe left the squad with a knee injury, with Ousmane Dembele next in Zinedine Zidane’s leadership order.
France set for new captain after Kylian Mbappe leaves squad injured
France are set to have a different captain for their upcoming matches after Kylian Mbappe was forced to leave the national team squad with a knee injury.
The Real Madrid superstar suffered the problem while scoring France’s winning goal in their 1-0 Nations League victory over Turkey.
Mbappe tried to continue but was eventually forced off shortly afterwards.
The French Football Federation later confirmed that he had suffered a tendon injury in his left knee.
With Mbappe ruled out for the remainder of the international break, Ousmane Dembele is now expected to take the captain’s armband.
Dembele next in France’s captaincy order
Zinedine Zidane had already decided his leadership group before his first match as France coach.
Mbappe remains the main captain.
But behind him, Zidane selected three experienced players:
Ousmane Dembele
Adrien Rabiot
Jules Kounde
Dembele is first in line behind Mbappe.
That means the PSG star is expected to lead France while Mbappe is unavailable.
Zidane chose experience
Zidane’s decision was based largely on international experience.
Dembele had 67 France appearances when the leadership group was announced.
Rabiot had 66, while Kounde had 56.
The system is similar to the approach Zidane used during his time as Real Madrid coach.
The most experienced players are given greater responsibility inside the squad.
Mbappe forced out after scoring winner
Mbappe’s injury came in frustrating circumstances.
He scored France’s winning goal against Turkey in the 54th minute after an assist from Michael Olise.
But during the finish, he hurt his left knee.
Mbappe briefly returned after treatment before going down again.
He was replaced by Desire Doue in the 59th minute.
France later confirmed that the captain would not play again during the current international window.
Dembele could captain France against Belgium
France’s next Nations League match is against Belgium.
With Mbappe unavailable, Dembele is now the leading candidate to wear the armband from the start.
If selected in the starting XI, it would give Dembele one of the biggest leadership responsibilities of his international career.
France will also face Italy and Belgium again later in the international period.
Mbappe is expected to miss all three matches.
Mbappe remains France’s main captain
There is one important clarification.
France have not replaced Mbappe permanently as captain.
When Zidane took charge, he immediately confirmed that the Real Madrid forward would keep the armband.
The coach said:
“Kylian will be my captain.”
That decision has not changed.
Dembele is expected to captain the team only because Mbappe is unavailable through injury.
A bigger role for Dembele
The decision gives Dembele an important new responsibility under Zidane.
The 29-year-old is one of the most experienced players in the current France squad.
He has also become one of the team’s biggest attacking stars.
Now he could be asked to lead Les Bleus both with his performances and with the captain’s armband.
It is another sign of how important Zidane believes Dembele can be in his new France team.
An interesting situation after Ballon d’Or tension
The captaincy situation is also interesting because Mbappe and Dembele have recently been involved in intense debate around the Ballon d’Or.
Both are competing for the individual award, and their public comments have attracted major attention in France.
But Zidane has placed both players at the top of his leadership structure.
Mbappe is the captain, while Dembele is his first replacement.
The coach clearly expects both stars to take major responsibility for the national team.
France prepare for life without Mbappe
Mbappe’s injury now creates Zidane’s first major selection problem.
France lose not only their leading goalscorer and attacking star but also their captain.
Other senior players will therefore need to take more responsibility.
And the first man expected to step forward is Dembele.
With Mbappe forced to leave the squad, Ousmane Dembele is now in line to become France’s captain for the upcoming Nations League matches.
It is not a permanent change.
But until Mbappe returns, France are preparing to follow a different leader onto the pitch.
