{
  "id": 8323272,
  "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-8323272",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T22:21:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/19/new-france-boss-zidane-confirms-mbappe-as-captain-after-naming-first-squad"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Paris, France - Zinedine Zidane, the new coach of the French national football team, has named his first squad for matches following his appointment at the end of July. Real Madrid's star player Kylian Mbappe has been confirmed as the team's captain, succeeding Didier Deschamps. Mbappe, who was the tournament's top scorer with 10 goals at the 2022 World Cup, has the versatility to play as a centre-forward, centre-back, or midfielder. Other notable additions to the squad include Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul, striker for Ligue 1's top scorer in the previous season, and midfielder Lucas Da Cunha from Italian club Como. The squad will begin their duties with a match against Italy at the Stade de France on October 2nd, followed by a home game against Belgium on September 28th.",
  "summary": "Notable names not featured in the squad include Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, Inter forward Marcus Thuram, and Arsenal defender William Saliba.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "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"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-09-18T22:31:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}