France team: Hugo Lloris retires from international football, the Blues are looking for a goalkeeper and a captain

The Tottenham goalkeeper was not promised to hold the French cage for long, and had possibly already played his last major international competition. But as this one has been long, and as the dream of the third star has invaded people’s minds, it is as if the future has receded far, far into the background. The end of the dream is as frantic as it is brutal. And the succession of the former Niçois and Lyonnais is now wide open.

Mike Maignan, logical successor

The Guyanese has plenty to see coming, as he seems a glove above the others. However, his return will be carefully scrutinized… and with the greatest precaution. Behind, the suitors exist to integrate the list of 23, 25, even 26, but do not offer as many guarantees. The role of number two should be played between Alphonse Areola (West Ham) and Alban Lafont (Nantes). Areola has the advantage of being a regular in the group of Didier Deschamps, who took him to the World Cup, but he still only plays the cups with Hammers at the gates of the red zone in the Premier League. Lafont, he continues to be decisive at the FCN, remains on a very good end of the year 2022, but his inexperience at the highest level does not plead in his favor.

In this register, Steve Mandanda has not said his last word, he who had pushed to Qatar in a role of lining, and has never officially communicated his international retirement. If he too were to hang up, a window would open, especially in the event of an upcoming package from Maignan. Brice Samba (28), imperial in the Lensois goal this season, would make a very credible candidate. Unless Deschamps is already anticipating in the long term with Illan Meslier (Leeds, 22), or even the revelation of the season in this position in Ligue 1, Lucas Chevalier (Lille, 21).

The armband for Varane… or full powers for Mbappé?

As for the captaincy, the list of substitutes for Lloris seems even shorter. Raphaël Varane seems to be the natural successor to his former last bastion. Because he was already vice-captain of the Blues until then. Because we have almost forgotten him, but he was the earliest captain in the history of the France team, at only 21 and a half years old in November 2014, and he has accumulated 16 armbands since. Because his presence, his calm and his experience both in the club and in the selection are reassuring. So many good reasons to close the discussion a priori quickly.

But Varane also frequents the infirmary assiduously in recent months, and is barely approaching his best level. Barely older (31 years old, against 29 for the Mancunian) but no less important on the ground as in the locker room, Antoine Griezmann would be more than a substitute, he who knew the honors of the captaincy in Denmark in the League of Nations on September 25 for the first time. His friend Paul Pogba, with a more assertive temperament, could also apply if his body wants to leave him alone.

And then there is the inevitable Kylian Mbappé. It has in its favor almost none of the arguments of its congeners. But with him, everything is definitely going too fast, regardless of his young age. Decisive during the World Cup, monstrous in talent and character in the final, the PSG striker has sewn his label as a leader by example. And his thirst for recognition from the public but also from his peers is infinite. Difficult to be of the caliber of giants without wearing this armband beyond the symbolic. Imagining him applying soon would not be incongruous. Enough to convince Didier Deschamps?