Zinedine Zidane spent many years patiently waiting for his opportunity to manage the French national team. The day after tomorrow, he will lead "Les Bleus" for the first time, succeeding Didier Deschamps, in a match against Turkey in the UEFA Nations League.
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Deschamps was the captain of the first French team to win the World Cup on home soil in 1998, and later captained the side that won the European Championship in 2000. However, Zidane was the true inspiration behind that generation, thanks to his immense playmaking talent, extraordinary ball control, and strong competitive drive.
Zidane ended his international playing career 20 years ago in the famous 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, where he was sent off after headbutting Italy's Marco Materazzi during extra time, before France lost on penalties. That match marked Zidane's 108th and final appearance in a French jersey.
Born in Marseille to an Algerian immigrant family, Zidane left his home country at the age of 24 when he transferred from Bordeaux to Italy's Juventus. He never returned to play in France after that, spending five years in Italy before enjoying the peak of his playing career with Real Madrid in Spain. He later returned to the Spanish club as head coach across two separate stints, leading them to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018.
His second spell as Real Madrid head coach ended in 2021, and since then, he has focused on biding his time and preparing for the role he had long anticipated.
"I have been waiting for this day for four or five years. I feel great emotion and immense enthusiasm. I am very happy; this means a lot to me," Zidane said during his official presentation as France's new manager in Paris in late July, marking the beginning of a new era for France after 14 years under Deschamps' leadership. Following his appointment, Kylian Mbappé posted on Instagram: "Welcome back home."
On Friday, Zidane announced his first squad, which featured several new names, amidst expectations that the French team under his guidance will play a more attacking style of football compared to most of Deschamps' tenure at least up until the most recent edition of the World Cup.
"You will see how I view football. Playing attractive football is what motivates me. There will always be balance in the team, but I want to see our squad play, and I believe we have the talent to do so," Zidane stated.
After years of prioritizing efficiency over aesthetic style an approach that drew some criticism despite delivering the 2018 World Cup title Deschamps realized during this year's tournament in North America that he possessed players capable of delivering a more attacking brand of football.
France entered the tournament as strong title favorites but were eliminated in the semifinals by Spain. Nevertheless, team captain Mbappé finished as the tournament's top scorer with 10 goals, while Michael Olise delivered outstanding performances, and Ousmane Dembélé, last year's Ballon d'Or winner, flashed brilliance at key moments.
All three players are included in Zidane's squad, with the coach confirming that Mbappé will remain team captain.
Missing from the squad due to injury are Arsenal defender William Saliba and Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni. Meanwhile, the roster includes several fresh faces: center-back Jérémy Jacquet received his first call-up following a strong start to the season with England's Liverpool; midfielder Lucas Da Cunha joined from Italy's Como; and Rennes forward Estéban Lepaul earned his chance after topping the Ligue 1 scoring charts last season.
David Bettoni will serve as Zidane's assistant coach, having previously worked alongside him at Real Madrid, while Fabien Barthez, his former France teammate and fellow World Cup winner, will take charge of training the goalkeepers.
The new manager's first major target will be leading France at UEFA Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland, ahead of the 2030 World Cup hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. Deschamps set a high bar after leading France to at least the semifinals in five of the last six major tournaments.
However, the journey begins in the UEFA Nations League a competition that offers Zidane stern tests from the outset without the overwhelming pressure of a Euro or World Cup tournament. France will visit Turkey and Belgium before Zidane takes charge of his first home match at the Stade de France on October 2 against Italy, in a fixture that will evoke memories of Materazzi and the 2006 final.
Resource: Al Ghad.
