Deschamps Backs Mbappé As France Captain

French national team coach Didier Deschamps praised Kylian Mbappé as a suitable captain for France and cautioned that facing Paraguay in the World Cup 2026 Round of 16 will not be easy.

France, the former runner-up, advanced to the final 16 after defeating Sweden 3-0 on June 30. Mbappé scored twice in the match at the 45th and 74th minutes, while Bradley Barcola added a goal at the 53rd minute. France will face Paraguay on July 4.

After the match, Deschamps praised Mbappé's performance, saying: "Kylian knows how to defend. He scores more than anyone. I told you from the start that he has a mission, even if you don't always hear me say it. Even in fitness training, he scores before anyone else."

"I've said for a long time that he understands the role of team captain. The image outsiders may have of him doesn't always reflect his true character—in fact, hardly ever."

The 57-year-old head coach also addressed the upcoming Paraguay clash: "If we maintain this level of focus and determination, we can go as far as possible. We need to do the same thing again in the coming days. Paraguay didn't reach this point by accident. You saw how well they played against Germany, and they have that South American DNA, which intensifies everything, especially in one-on-one duels. Now we'll celebrate this victory first, then focus on Paraguay."