Zidane’s First France Squad: Key Changes and New Faces
Zinedine Zidane has wasted no time putting his stamp on France.
In his first squad since taking over from Didier Deschamps in the summer, the new head coach has named a 23-man group for the upcoming international break, mixing heavyweight World Cup veterans with a fresh wave of untested talent for the 2026–2027 Nations League.
Core of World Cup Side Intact
Fifteen players from the recent World Cup campaign keep their places, providing continuity as Zidane begins his rebuild. The team is still built around captain Kylian Mbappé, with Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise forming a star-studded attacking core.
France are not easing into this new era. They start in League A of the Nations League, drawn in a demanding group with Türkiye, Belgium, and Italy. The message is clear: this is a reboot, not a reset.
Five New Faces, One Clear Direction
The headline from Zidane’s list is the injection of five uncapped players, a clear nod to the next cycle and the road to Euro 2028.
- Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet earns his first senior call-up, stepping in with William Saliba absent. His selection underlines how quickly Zidane is willing to trust new blood in key positions.
- Jacquet is joined by Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, who gets his opportunity to stake a claim in a position France have rarely lacked depth, and Inter Milan full-back Andy Diouf, another sign that the flanks are being modernised.
- In midfield, Como playmaker Lucas Da Cunha is rewarded for his rise with a place in the squad, offering a different creative profile in the centre of the pitch.
- Up front, Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul, last season’s top scorer in Ligue 1, finally breaks into the senior setup. His inclusion feels like a meritocratic call: form has been noticed, and form has been rewarded.
These five names are not window dressing. They point directly to Zidane’s intention to refresh the core, not just patch around it.
Big Absences, Big Statement
New arrivals mean painful omissions. Zidane has left out several of the national team’s long-standing figures, among them N’Golo Kanté, Lucas Hernandez, and Lucas Digne.
For years, those names were almost automatic in any France squad. Not this time.
Their absence, combined with Saliba’s, forces a significant reshaping of the defensive and midfield structures. France are not short of options, but leaving out such seasoned campaigners underlines Zidane’s readiness to make hard decisions early rather than lean on familiar comfort.
This is not a gentle transition. It is a deliberate turn toward the future and a new tactical framework.
A New Era Begins on the Road
The Zidane era officially begins next Friday in Kocaeli, where France travel to face Türkiye in their Nations League opener. It is not a soft launch: an away trip, a hostile atmosphere, and a new-look squad all under the spotlight.
Then comes Brussels and a meeting with Belgium on September 28, a fixture that rarely lacks edge. After that, France return to the Stade de France for a marquee clash with Italy on October 2, before hosting Belgium again on October 5.
By the end of that run, France will have faced three heavyweight opponents in four games. Zidane’s choices will be tested quickly. So will the new faces he has backed.
