Mbappe, Kane and Ronaldo still the gold standard on the international stage

29.03.2023 - 03:25 thenationalnews.com

Hugo Lloris spread his arms wide and raised them up slowly to perform a Viking Clap. Around him, 70,000 at the Stade de France were doing the same.

It was the formal goodbye to France’s most capped player, the Frenchman who has worn the captain’s armband for the national team more times than any other.

Lloris was standing close to the centre circle, alongside three other former Bleus players who have retired from national duty.

Their children were with them. They looked visibly moved. Lloris, Raphael Varane, Blaise Matuidi and Steve Mandanda then took up their VIP seats to watch France kick off their first international since these elder statesmen became, officially, ex-internationals.

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