As France prepare to take on Israel at the Stade de France, it was N’Golo Kanté who spoke at the pre-match press conference. With his usual humility, the 33-year-old midfielder discreetly confirmed who would be Les Bleus’ new captain. But it was Didier Deschamps who then made the news official.
In the absence of Kylian Mbappé and Aurelien Tchouameni, someone had to wear the armband tomorrow against Israel. Asked about this potential responsibility at a press conference on Wednesday evening, Ngolo Kanté remained cautious. “I think it’s possible (that he’ll be captain tomorrow), there’s still a training session to go. It’s highly likely,” he said, without going any further. Didier Deschamps then made the news official: Ngolo Kanté will indeed captain Les Bleus.
In any case, it will be only the second time that Kanté has worn the captain’s armband, an unusual role for a player who prefers to shine through his hard work on the pitch rather than his speeches.
Kanté, a discreet but determined leader
Known for his discretion, N’Golo Kanté is not the type of person you would naturally expect to be giving grand tirades in the dressing room. However, the midfielder reminds us that his leadership style manifests itself in other ways. “I have my own personality and I’ve been in the team for a while now. My role is to pull the team up, to be focused, and to be a relay for the coach on the pitch,” he explained. For Kanté, the armband is not just a symbol, but a responsibility that he shoulders with humility, reminding us that other players, just as capable, speak up in the dressing room.
Tomorrow evening, against Israel, N’Golo Kanté could well embody this team spirit by leading Les Bleus on the pitch. A role which, even for this player with an atypical profile, demonstrates that leadership can take many forms.
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