{
  "id": 8323037,
  "title": "New France boss Zidane confirms Mbappe as captain after naming first squad",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/new-france-boss-zidane-confirms-mbappe-as-captain-after-naming-first-8323037",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T22:31:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2026/09/1535834/new-france-boss-zidane-confirms-mbappe-captain-after-naming-first"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Paris: Zinedine Zidane, France's new coach, has named his first squad, with Kylian Mbappe confirmed as the team's captain. The Real Madrid star, who finished as the World Cup's top scorer with 10 goals, will lead Les Bleus in the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches. Zidane, the former Ballon d'Or winner, named several new faces in his squad, including Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet, Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul, and Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha. Notable players who missed out on the squad include Aurelien Tchouameni, Marcus Thuram, and William Saliba. Zidane's first home game as coach will be against Italy on October 2, followed by a match against Belgium on September 28.",
  "summary": "PARIS: Zinedine Zidane confirmed on Friday that Kylian Mbappe would be his France captain after naming his first squad since being appointed as the successor to Didier Deschamps as coach of Les Bleus.",
  "key_points": [
    "Zinedine Zidane confirms Kylian Mbappe as France captain",
    "Real Madrid star Mbappe leads Les Bleus in UEFA Nations League",
    "New squad includes Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "New France boss Zidane confirms Mbappé as captain after naming first squad",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/new-france-boss-zidane-confirms-mbappe-as-captain-after-naming-first",
        "published": "2026-09-18T16:47:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Liverpool's Jacquet among new faces in Zidane's first France squad",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/liverpools-jacquet-among-new-faces-in-zidanes-first-france-squad",
        "published": "2026-09-18T17:14:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "New France boss Zidane confirms Mbappe as captain after naming first squad",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/new-france-boss-zidane-confirms-mbappe-as-captain-after-naming-first-8276601",
        "published": "2026-09-18T17:19:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "France coach Zidane picks 5 new faces in first squad and calls time on Benzema, Kante",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/france-coach-zidane-picks-5-new-faces-in-first-squad-and-calls-time",
        "published": "2026-09-18T17:20:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "New France coach Zidane confirms Mbappe as captain",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/new-france-coach-zidane-confirms-mbappe-as-captain",
        "published": "2026-09-18T18:22:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Zidane names first squad, confirms Mbappe France captain",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/zidane-names-first-squad-confirms-mbappe-france-captain",
        "published": "2026-09-18T19:08:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "New France boss Zidane confirms Mbappe as captain after naming first squad",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/new-france-boss-zidane-confirms-mbappe-as-captain-after-naming-first-8320905",
        "published": "2026-09-18T22:21:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}