Zidane’s First France Squad: Star Power Meets Ruthless Reset
Zinedine Zidane has delivered his first major statement as France head coach. Not with words, but with a list of 23 names.
Taking over from Didier Deschamps in the summer, Zidane unveiled his inaugural squad for the upcoming international break, shaping the group that will launch France’s 2026–2027 Nations League campaign. It’s a squad that leans on a World Cup-hardened core, yet clearly opens a new chapter.
Mbappé Leads, the Core Stays
Fifteen players from the recent World Cup return. Continuity, but not comfort.
Kylian Mbappé remains the face and voice of the team as captain, flanked by Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise. With that attacking trio, Zidane is not exactly easing himself into the job.
France will need that firepower. They’ve been placed in a demanding Nations League League A group alongside Türkiye, Belgium, and Italy. This is not a gentle warm-up for a new era; it’s a stress test from day one.
Five New Faces, One Clear Message
The real intrigue lies in the names we haven’t seen at this level before.
Zidane has called up five uncapped players, dipping into France’s seemingly endless talent pool and sending a clear signal that reputations alone will not guarantee a place.
At the back, Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet earns his first senior call-up, stepping in with William Saliba absent. He’s joined by Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes and Inter Milan full-back Andy Diouf, both rewarded for their rapid rise at club level.
In midfield, Como playmaker Lucas Da Cunha gets the nod, a creative option who now has the chance to translate his club form to the international stage.
Up front, Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul forces his way into the squad after finishing as Ligue 1’s top scorer last season. Goals are a hard currency; Lepaul has them, and Zidane has taken notice.
These selections are not cosmetic. They point directly towards the cycle building to Euro 2028, with Zidane clearly intent on refreshing the spine of the team while the veterans are still around to set the standard.
Big Names Out as Zidane Draws a Line
New blood means tough cuts. Zidane has not shied away.
Several long-standing figures are missing from this first list, including N’Golo Kanté, Lucas Hernandez, and Lucas Digne. Their omission underlines a shift: respect for the past, but no obligation to it.
The absence of Arsenal centre-back Saliba, due to non-selection rather than injury in this context, adds another layer of change at the back. With him out, the defensive line undergoes a significant reshuffle, and Zidane has chosen to lean into that disruption rather than patch around it.
France have depth in almost every position, but leaving out such experienced names is still a bold move. It suggests Zidane is already thinking in terms of a new tactical framework, not just a short-term tune-up.
A New Era Begins on the Road
The Zidane era will not begin on home soil, nor in a low-key friendly.
France open away to Türkiye next Friday in Kocaeli, a hostile setting for any debut. From there, they head to Brussels to face Belgium on September 28, another high-stakes test against familiar rivals.
Only then do they return to the Stade de France, where Italy await on October 2 in what could quickly become a defining night of this Nations League run. A second clash with Belgium follows on October 5, closing a brutal opening stretch.
By the end of that run, Zidane’s choices – the faith in youth, the cold decisions on veterans, the reshaped defence – will have been examined under the harshest light.
If this is the foundation for Euro 2028, we’re about to find out how solid it really is.
