The appointment has been met with enthusiasm, notably from captain
A New Tactical Direction for Les Bleus
Zidane has signalled a shift in philosophy, suggesting that his team will prioritise an attacking style of play. While acknowledging the necessity of maintaining tactical balance, the new manager emphasised his desire to see the squad express themselves on the pitch. This approach follows a period where France often leaned towards pragmatism, though the team showed glimpses of a more offensive identity during recent tournaments.
The squad for the upcoming fixtures features a blend of established stars and fresh talent. Mbappe, who finished as the top scorer at the recent World Cup in North America, retains the captaincy. He is joined by key attacking threats including Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele. However, the squad will be without the injured William Saliba and Aurelien Tchouameni. New additions to the fold include Liverpool centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha, and Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul, who earned his spot after a prolific Ligue 1 campaign.
Building Toward Future Major Tournaments
Zidane has assembled a familiar support staff, bringing in David Bettoni as his assistant and former teammate Fabien Barthez as the goalkeeping coach. The immediate focus for the new management team is the UEFA Nations League, which provides a competitive environment to test the squad before the challenges of Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup.
Following the away fixture against Turkey, France will travel to face Belgium. The manager’s home debut at the Stade de France is scheduled for October 2 against Italy, a match that carries historical resonance given the conclusion of Zidane's playing career in the 2006 World Cup final. With France having reached the semi-finals in five of the last six major tournaments under Deschamps, the new regime faces high expectations as they look to build on a legacy of consistent success.
