French football fans have expressed their frustration towards Kylian Mbappé for not being required to join the national team, suggesting that the true captain of the team is Antoine Griezmann.

The Irresistibles Francais, a group of French national team supporters, criticized Kylian Mbappé, the team captain, for being allowed to skip international duty, even after he recently started for Real Madrid.

Mbappé had suffered a thigh injury in late September, which was expected to keep him out for three weeks. However, he recovered faster than anticipated and came on as a substitute in the Champions League match where his team lost to Lille 0-1 on October 2. He then started in the league match where Madrid defeated Lille 2-0.

However, when the squad for the UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium was announced, Mbappé’s name was not included. Didier Deschamps, the coach of “Les Bleus,” stated that discussions were held with Mbappé and Madrid before making this decision, as it was believed it would help Mbappé recover fully from his injury.

A spokesperson for the French fan group said, “What we’ve learned this week is that the true captain of the team is no longer with us. We mean the one appointed by the fans, that person is Antoine Griezmann (referring to Griezmann’s recent retirement from international duty). We ask ourselves if the captain’s decision was the right one, and in this case, we cannot answer that. There are some mistakes, and at the same time, we lose a good role model.”

“Is it due to communication problems? For someone who is the team captain, this is not normal. It could be Real Madrid or France asking him to keep quiet. But we know that when he wants to speak, he will speak out. Nevertheless, he should fulfill his duties as captain. We wouldn’t go as far as to say we feel treated like fools by anyone, but this has been an unforgettable week, and it will be a hard week to come to terms with because it will leave a stain.”

Tributes poured in as France prepares for game without Griezmann in a decade

Griezmann, a star player for Atletico Madrid at 33 years old, made his debut for the national team in 2014. He has played 137 matches for Les Bleus, scoring 44 goals, and has won the World Cup in 2018 and the Nations League in 2021. Recently, Griezmann, who played his last match for the French team in the Nations League against Belgium, announced his official retirement from international duty.

Griezmann ranks among the top players in French football history, having earned 137 caps for the national team and scored 44 goals. This impressive record places him second in the all-time scoring list, just behind Thierry Henry, who leads with 51 goals from 123 appearances. Following Griezmann, Michel Platini made 72 appearances and scored 41 goals, while David Trezeguet played in 71 matches, netting 34 goals. Zinedine Zidane also left his mark with 108 caps and 31 goals. Griezmann’s contributions solidify his status as one of the most impactful players in the history of Les Bleus.

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France National Team Roster for the Nations League

• Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola, Mike Maignan, Brice Samba
• Defenders: Jonathan Clauss, Lucas Digne, Wesley Fofana, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahim Konate, Jules Koundé, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano
• Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga, Youssouf Fofana, Matteo Guendouzi, Manu Koné, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Warren Zaïre-Emery
• Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, Randal Kolo Muani, Christopher Nkunku, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram

French National Team Head Coach Congratulates Pogba After Reduced Ban

As many are aware, Paul Pogba’s doping ban has been reduced from four years to just 18 months, allowing the French star to return to professional football in March 2025. Recently, Didier Deschamps, the head coach of the French national team, expressed his congratulations to Pogba.

“I spoke to him on the phone for a long time during this difficult period for him, and of course, it’s fantastic news because at least now he will be able to return to play football in March. So during the period from January to March, he will need to work hard.”

“It’s a huge relief for him, and I am happy for him. Even though I think it was a rather harsh penalty, 18 months is still better than the four years he originally faced, and he needs to keep pushing hard.”

“In the meantime, he will need to talk with his club, Juventus. But at least he knows he will be back in March 2025. He is someone who loves football, and I will always support my players.”

“I have known Paul since the early days, and when bad things happen, whether it’s injuries, personal matters, or a ban like this, players know that I am here and ready to talk with them.”

“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but it means a lot to me because I believe that this support is normal and something I want to give to my players.”

Currently, there are strong rumors that Paul Pogba is preparing to terminate his contract with Juventus, with several Major League Soccer teams expressing interest in acquiring him. There is also a possibility that Pogba could move to Olympique Marseille, where Mason Greenwood currently plays.

Golden Opportunity! Evra Encourages Marseille to Sign Pogba

Former star left-back Patrice Evra stated that he personally hopes Olympique Marseille will sign Paul Pogba.

Even though Pogba’s ban has been reduced from four years to 18 months, allowing him to return to play in March next year, there are reports that Juventus still wants to terminate his contract. It is believed that the French star thinks a fresh start with another team would be more suitable for him.

“I don’t think we will see Paul in a Juventus shirt again. We need to move forward. I will contact Mehdi Benatia (Marseille’s sporting director) so that he can reach out to him (Pogba) because the door is wide open for that.”

Pogba has never played a senior match for a club in France, as he moved from Le Havre to Manchester United while still playing in the youth team.