Petit: 'It is right not to choose Griezmann as captain'

After goalkeeper Hugo Lloris retired from international career, coach Deschamps decided to let Mbappe inherit the captaincy in France. However, this decision is said to lead to Griezmann's negative reaction. Many sources of the French press confirmed that the 32-year-old striker was disappointed when he was only selected as vice-captain and was considering parting "Les Bleus".

"The captaincy needs consensus, because it unites everyone in the dressing room," Petit commented on RMC Sport on March 22. "Sorry, with him demanding and reacting so intensely, we have a perfect excuse not to give it to Griezmann."

Petit said he was concerned about Griezmann's ability to lead the team, because the captain must be a person of prestige and a great influence on his teammates. "Griezmann played well in the World Cup, but is he a leader in the way of leading the players around and talking when in trouble?" asked Petit. "Power is something to be won, not something to be demanded."

Griezmann has played for France since 2014. Currently, he is the most senior player in the team. Griezmann has scored 42 goals in 117 matches, helping France reach the Euro 2016 final, win the 2018 World Cup and the 2022 World Cup final. Griezmann also won the Best Player and Euro 2016 Top Scorer award.

Mbappe is currently the most famous French player. Since joining the team in 2017, the 24-year-old striker has always been the flagship in every tournament. At the 2018 World Cup, Mbappe scored four goals. By the 2022 World Cup, he scored eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final defeat to Argentina, and became the top scorer. Mbappe is only four goals behind the top scorer in World Cup history, Miroslav Klose.

France is in Group B of Euro 2024 qualifying with the Netherlands, Ireland, Gibraltar and Greece. The top two teams in the group will qualify for the final round. On March 24 and 27, France will play the first two qualifying matches against the Netherlands and Ireland.