Maignan new No. 1 with France after stopping goalkeeper Lloris
NOS Football–
Mike Maignan is the new No. 1 of in the French soccer team. The AC Milan goalkeeper succeeds Hugo Lloris, who quit as an international after the World Cup in Qatar. France is the Netherlands’ first opponent in the qualification series for the European Championship on Friday.
The 36-year-old Lloris, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur, made 145 appearances for the national team, making him the French record international. His last international was the World Cup final against Argentina, which was lost via penalties.
Maignan, AC Milan’s 27-year-old goalkeeper, is receiving the confidence of national coach Didier Deschamps for the time being. “Mike will be No. 1,” Deschamps said at Monday’s press conference. The national coach further called up Alphonse Aréola and Brice Samba as goalkeepers.
Deschamps has not yet decided who will be France’s new captain. “I’m going to decide that in the next few days. Something like that has to develop a bit naturally, too.” Star player Kylian Mbappé, who also sometimes serves as captain at his club Paris Saint-Germain, appears to be a leading candidate.
