Emmanuel Petit, the former France midfielder, questioned Kylian Mbappe’s suitability for the team’s captaincy, a remark reported by the German broadcaster NTV. The former international said Mbappe still has to prove his leadership on the field, noting that the striker has not taken enough responsibility in the national setup. Petit also explained that he is not in peak physical condition due to a broken nose he carries, which he described as a factor in his current form.
France reached the semi-finals of the 2024 European Championship in Germany after a tournament where the squad struggled to find the back of the net, scoring only on a penalty shootout against Portugal in the quarter-finals. With the exception of Mbappe’s successful penalty in the group stage clash with Poland, the team’s goals were predominantly own goals, making the campaign a surprising defensive story rather than a high-scoring run.
Mbappe endured a broken nose in the opening match of the tournament against Austria, a 2-1 victory that forced him to miss the subsequent meeting with the Netherlands. He returned to action against Poland but, aside from the penalty tally, did not significantly alter the match’s outcome or the team’s attacking tone during that game.
Looking ahead, France is set to face Spain in the semi-finals. The fixture is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, July 9, with kick-off at 22:00 local time (Moscow time), and a live text broadcast is planned to accompany the match coverage.
A former French national team legend has suggested Mbappe should be considered for removal from the squad, signaling the ongoing debate about leadership roles and team dynamics at the highest level of international football.