Football: France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris announces his international retirement

The goalkeeper of the French football team, Hugo Lloris.

REUTERS - MATTHEW CHILDS

Text by: RFI Follow

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Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, captain of the 2018 world champions and the most capped player in the history of the French football team (145 caps), announced his international retirement in an interview with the sports daily

. 

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"It's not easy to announce this, but after fourteen years defending this shirt, which I wore with great pleasure, with pride, duty and a sense of responsibility, I believe I have reached the end" , said in

 Hugo Lloris, 36, finalist of the 2022 World Cup three weeks ago in Qatar.

International since 2008, Lloris was given the armband by Laurent Blanc, who had succeeded Raymond Domenech after the Knysna fiasco in 2010. The current coach Didier Deschamps made him a basic man of the France team, with culminating in a Euro final in 2016, the world title in 2018 and a new World Cup final on December 18, lost against Argentina on penalties (3-3, 4 tab to 2) .

“

There comes a time when you have to know how to pass the hand

 ”

After two seven years in selection, " 

 ," says Lloris to L'Équipe.

"I think that behind, the team is ready to continue," he said, citing in particular the name of his designated successor in the tricolor cage, Mike Maignan.

Package in Qatar, the AC Milan goalkeeper (27) is expected as the number 1 in the France team as part of the next qualifications for Euro-2024, from March.

“I feel like I gave it my all, I still took my part in the adventure, but I don't want to wait for the moment when I start to do a little less.

I prefer to go out still being at the top, after having helped the French team to reach the World Cup final, ”said Lloris to the sports daily.

(

AFP)

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