Kylian Mbappe hailed the "carefree" mindset of the new France generation as the forward eyes surpassing Michel Platini on Les Bleus' all-time scoring charts.
The Paris Saint-German superstar scored twice in his first game as France captain as Didier Deschamps' side hammered the Netherlands 4-0 to kickstart their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign on Friday.
That double took the 24-year-old striker to 38 goals in 67 appearances for his country, just three international strikes short of Platini, who sits fourth in France's leading scorers chart.
Antoine Griezmann (43), Thierry Henry (51) and Olivier Giroud (53) are the only three to manage more and Mbappe is out to catch Platini when Deschamps' men visit the Republic of Ireland on Monday.
He said at Sunday's pre-match press conference: "It's an honour but it's also the next target to beat.
"Platini remains a legend of French football but I want to continue my journey and it goes through Michel Platini."
France fell agonisingly short at the World Cup in Qatar, losing on penalties to Argentina in the final, but the future appears incredibly bright for Les Bleus.
Deschamps has the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni and Edouard Camavinga in midfield, while Randal Kolo Muani provides support for Mbappe up top.
Centre-back pairing Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano are yet to reach their 25th birthdays and Mbappe says he is relishing leading a youthful France.
"I don't know all the generations. This one is carefree," he added. "We always have this desire to show that we can do good things.
"This team can aim for the heights. In adversity, we will see other things. We had a first match that we made easy. We will see in due time.
"Maybe there will be more difficult moments and I hope that we can overcome them."
As for the captaincy, Mbappe suggested little has changed despite taking the armband from the retired Hugo Lloris.
He continued: "I was the same, I naturally played my new role. There was not much to say in relation to the team's performance. I'm not going to talk just to talk.
"I was the link between the two generations but there were no differences during the week. The group is doing very well, I did not have to intervene. The less work I have, the better for everyone.
"We must not get carried away and we have started qualifying well. Tomorrow's match will be more complicated than what people may think."
Lionel Messi to leave Paris St Germain at end of season – Christophe Galtier
Lionel Messi will leave Paris St Germain at the end of the season, manager Christophe Galtier has confirmed.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will make his last appearance for the club in their final Ligue 1 outing of the campaign against Clermont on Saturday.
The 35-year-old’s departure after two years at PSG had long been anticipated and it was officially communicated by Galtier at a press conference on Thursday.
“I will take away that I have had the privilege of coaching the best football player ever, Leo Messi,” said Galtier in remarks published on the club’s website, psg.fr.
“Saturday will be his last game at the Parc des Princes. I hope he will be welcomed in the best way possible.”
Messi left Barcelona for PSG amid a financial crisis at the Catalan club in 2021.
The Argentinian World Cup winner has helped the Parisians to two Ligue 1 titles but, despite some impressive statistics this season, his relationship with the club appeared to have soured.
Last month, he was suspended for two weeks after making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.
He has since been linked with a future move to the Middle East country, as well as the United States and a return to Barcelona.
Galtier was keen to pay tribute to his on-field contributions.
He said: “He has always been available, always present in the training sessions.
“Despite the remarks or criticisms that I don’t think were justified at all, he has always been at the service of the team, both as a provider of assists and as a goalscorer.
“He is 35 years old, there was a World Cup in the middle of the season. His stats outside of the World Cup, correct me if I am wrong, but I think he is on 21 goals and 22 assists, which means he has (contributed) 43 times this season.”
Young players taking their life should not become a norm – Tareiq Holmes-Dennis
Players could harm themselves if not given enough support during times of crisis, according to former Huddersfield youngster Tareiq Holmes-Dennis.
The defender was forced to retire in 2020, aged just 24, after a serious knee injury.
Holmes-Dennis needed counselling when his career was cut short and while he feels concern for player welfare has improved, claims there needs to be a prolonged push to aid those in need.
Former Manchester City youngster Jeremy Wisten took his own life in 2020 after being released following a battle with a knee injury and Holmes-Dennis worries about the mental health of others.
“When you see young boys that have taken their life because they can’t cope – coping with the stresses of being released – it should never get there,” he told the PA news agency.
“You don’t want it to become a norm. There are so many people going through situations where they are mentally struggling.
“It is starting to be highlighted a bit more. Some clubs in particular are putting time and effort into giving the resources to players and, ultimately, it’s players who make the club perform.
“Their welfare should be at the forefront but it’s relatively new, mental health and player welfare and making sure players are in a good physical and mental space.
“There is a magnifying glass on that now which is good because it is easy to look from the outside and say ‘you’re paid to do X, Y, Z’. There’s a lot more that goes into that and there’s a lot of repercussions for players off the pitch if their mental health isn’t in the right place.
“It’s clear an effort is being made to understand what players go through and what can be done to best aid them.”
The 27-year-old, now working at agency Wasserman, suffered a serious knee injury on his Portsmouth debut in 2017 while on loan at Fratton Park from Huddersfield.
He slipped on the artificial surface around the pitch and, after three years of injury battles and aborted comebacks, was forced to retire prematurely.
Other players have returned from a similar injury, including Jack Whatmough and Jack Robinson, who played with Holmes-Dennis at Pompey.
However, being forced to quit left the former England Under-18 international feeling bereft.
“I saw a counsellor to get over it. I learned speaking about it was the biggest thing. I didn’t want to hold it in,” said Holmes-Dennis, who was part of the Huddersfield squad promoted to the Premier League in 2017.
“I also didn’t want to be annoying people but I know my family loved me and understood what I was going through was difficult because they’d seen my journey.
“It was just a dark, dark time. Losing that routine, losing that drive to wake up and do something. You’re used to preparing in a certain way, being an elite athlete and living the elite lifestyle to then feeling irrelevant.”
Holmes-Dennis’ situation is not unique and left a promising young player facing up to the reality of having his career and life torn away.
After starting his career at Charlton, joining Huddersfield in 2016, Holmes-Dennis made 107 senior appearances – including 30 for Bristol Rovers – before the injury he suffered against Rochdale on August 5, 2017.
To aid players like him, the Professional Footballers’ Association has joined with a law firm, Stewarts, to offer current and former players a legal dispute management service.
The PFA already offers club workshops, a 24/7 helpline, a national network of 250 counsellors and residential support via the Sporting Chance Clinic.
Also available to members is a wellbeing network and, in 2021-22, 600 accessed the service, resulting in more than 7,000 therapy sessions.
In the last 10 months, the PFA has also appointed former Arsenal executive James King as its general counsel.
Sports disputes lawyer at Stewarts, Barrington Atkins, added: “We know player wellbeing is very much at the heart of what the PFA does, and we aim to help players tackle any issues before they start to impact their wellbeing.”
Players will be provided with advice on problems relating to injuries, employment, divorce and family issues, tax disputes and media-related issues – a service which Holmes-Dennis feels is much needed.
“It’s massive because it’s a stress you wouldn’t want to take on your own,” he said. “You might not understand how to navigate the situation.
“As long as there’s an awareness and the culture is shifting to actually caring about players – physically and mentally – and not just for tonight’s game or tomorrow’s game, then there’s progress.
“Players want to play but whether they are capable, able or physically and mentally ready to do so is another thing.”
Bristol Rovers declined to comment when contacted by the PA news agency.
Lauren James commits her future to Chelsea until 2027
Chelsea striker Lauren James has signed a new contract which will keep her at the club until the summer of 2027, the Blues have announced.
The 21-year-old, who was named in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup finals on Wednesday, was part of Emma Hayes’ side as they completed a second consecutive Women’s Super League and FA Cup double during the season which has just ended.
James told the club’s official website: “It’s an amazing feeling to extend my stay at the club I love and where I feel most at home. I’m looking forward to the future and I want to reach my full potential.
“I want to be the best version of me as a player and as a person, helping to inspire the next generation. It definitely feels like home and it’s always been the place I’ve wanted to be.”
Schooled in Chelsea’s academy, James made her senior debut for Arsenal as a 16-year-old and signed her first professional deal with Manchester United before returning to the Blues on a four-year contract in July 2021.
General manager Paul Green said: “We’re delighted that Lauren has signed an extended deal. She has built on last season and taken another step forward in her development.
“She is one of the best young players in the world, who is blue through and through. We look forward to seeing her continue to progress and we believe she will go on to achieve big things at the club.”
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