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 L'Équipe published on its website Monday, January 9.
"It's not easy to announce this, but after fourteen years defending this jersey, which I wore with great pleasure, with pride, duty and a sense of responsibility, I believe I have reached the end" , says the 36-year-old doorman, finalist of the World Cup-2022 three weeks ago in Qatar.
International since 2008, Hugo Lloris was entrusted with 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, 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 ).
After two seven years in selection, "there comes a time when you have to know how to pass the hand", 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 have the feeling of having given everything, of having still taken my part in the adventure, but I do not want to wait for the moment when I will start to do a little less. I prefer to go out in being always at the top, after having helped the French team to reach the World Cup final", Hugo Lloris told the sports daily.
With AFP
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