French football team: without Mbappé or Griezmann, which leaders for the Blues against Israel and Belgium ?

With the retirement of Antoine Griezmann and the controversial withdrawal of Kylian Mbappé, who played this weekend with Real Madrid, and finally that of Dayot Upamecano this Monday, October 7, the French team must promote new leaders for its matches against Israel and Belgium.

Mbappé's absence is causing a stir

Spared with the Blues, the captain will neither be in Budapest on Thursday to face Israel nor in Belgium on Monday 14, as part of the Nations League, while he played 30 then 70 minutes with his club, Wednesday and Saturday, creating enormous unease.

When revealing his list of 23 players without his star, Didier Deschamps mentioned “his uncertain situation” between his half-hour in Lille, where Real lost in C1 (1-0), and “a match on Saturday” against Villarreal (2-0 victory) that the coach was therefore considering already.

Read also: Mbappé absent from the gathering with the Blues due to injury: the French striker starting with his team Real Madrid this Saturday

The technician specified that he had "spoke with Kylian" and did not want to "take risks". "DD" had also recalled that he considered these Nations League matches as an opportunity to'"breathe some air" his group, and that he would not have made the same decisions for qualifications for the 2026 World Cup.

This absence, however, comes in the wake of the September gathering where the captain of the French team did not seem interested in either the criticism of the tricolors' play or the League of Nations.

But in the staff of the Blues, we insist on the fact that there is “no problem” with Mbappé, as Deschamps already said on the day of the list.“I have no doubt about Kylian's involvement, I've discussed it with him several times between this gathering and the previous one.”

Starting the post-Griezmann era

In addition to Mbappé's absence, the post-“Grizou” era is beginning, after ten years of love and sparks. No one has the unique profile of the Atlético Madrid player, an indefatigable pacesetter, ball-winner, re-launcher, puncher and scorer.

Deschamps made it clear that he was not looking for an unfindable clone to fill the void left by the departure of his “favorite” with 137 caps (44 goals).

Read also:“Thank you for this magnificent adventure”: Antoine Griezmann announces that he will no longer wear the French team jersey

For his creative profile, Michael Olise could occupy a somewhat similar role, after having experienced his first two selections against Italy (3-1 defeat) and Belgium (2-0 victory).

The Bayern player remained timid in Blue, but he shines in Germany where he has scored 5 goals and 3 assists since the start of the season. And these Nations League group matches should serve to see the world.

In a completely different role, Christopher Nkunku (10 caps, 0 goals) returns to the squad for the first time in 16 months after injuries interrupted his history with Les Bleus.

My captain ?

Who will wear the armband against Israel and Belgium?“Antoine's international career has ended and Kylian's absence leaves room,”, admits Deschamps. N'Golo Kanté, who wore it for the third time against the "Red Devils" in Lyon, is also absent due to a small problem with his adductors.

Adrien Rabiot could have been the chosen one but he only played two half-hours with Olympique de Marseille, after a whole summer without a club, it was “wiser for him to have a few more weeks to perfect his condition”, estimated Deschamps, who expects him rather for November.

Defense chief Dayot Upamecano would have had the profile but he also gave up due to a right thigh injury with Bayern Munich.

“Relays were taken after the World Cup”, recalls Deschamps, listing “expressive leadership, other techniques, by what they do on the field”. But “the captain and vice-captain, you won't know before the players concerned”, warned the coach.

No player on the list has ever worn the armband and the 132nd captain in the history of the Blues, according to the count of the site chroniquesbleues.fr, could be Mike Maignan, Aurélien Tchouameni or Jules Koundé, by character or seniority.