Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Real Madrid midfield heavyweight Aurelien Tchouameni is set to captain the French national team in their upcoming match against UEFA Nations League clash against Israel, tomorrow in Budapest, reports AS.
The decision, agreed upon by manager Didier Deschamps and the technical staff, was made by the head coach this Wednesday morning, marking the first time the midfielder will wear the captain’s armband for Les Bleus.
Tchouameni succeeds fellow Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe, who has stayed back in the Spanish capital after being rested by Deschamps following some recent fitness issues.
With Antoine Griezmann also announcing his retirement, Tchouameni has been selected as the man to lead the 2018 world champions. The former AS Monaco star was chosen for the distinction ahead of others like Ibrahima Konate, Mike Maignan, and Jules Kounde.
A fundamental piece
Since making his debut for the national team in September 2021 against Bosnia, Tchouameni has established himself as one of the fundamental pieces of the French national team.
Following injuries to Paul Pogba and multiple absences of N’Golo Kante, the Real Madrid man assumed leadership in midfield, cementing his position as an undisputed starter with no genuine competition for his spot.
The 24-year-old has accumulated 36 international appearances, scoring three goals and providing one assist. Of these 36 appearances, 30 were as a starter and only six from the bench, highlighting his importance in the Les Bleus’ setup.
An undisputed starter in the 2022 World Cup and the latest European Championship, Tchouameni’s importance to the French national team is supreme.
Despite facing criticism for his performances at Real Madrid, Deschamps maintains complete confidence in the midfielder, choosing to award him the highest distinction of captaincy.
