Eduardo Camavinga arrived at the King Baudouin Stadium carrying both a recent disappointment and a fresh opportunity. Left out of the World Cup, the Real Madrid midfielder is back in the France squad under Zinédine Zidane and in line for Tuesday night’s Nations League meeting with Belgium.
The move
The 23-year-old was used from the bench in France’s 1-0 win in Turkey on Friday, replacing Rayan Cherki in the 80th minute. He then faced the media before Belgium-France, scheduled for 20:45 on Tuesday.
Camavinga has admitted that consistency remains the major area he must improve, despite having already shown his level in previous seasons.
“What I lack is regularity,” he said. “I have performed well before, but that is what is missing. It comes through concentration during matches and making fewer mistakes. Rome was not built in a day.”
He was omitted from France’s World Cup squad, a setback he described as painful after a career that had moved quickly until then. His immediate recall under Zidane, however, has given him a route back.
“Every footballer wants to play in that kind of tournament,” Camavinga said. “It affected me. It was a new disappointment for me, but being in the first squad afterwards means a lot. I had to respond and lift my head again. It shows I have not given up.”
The French season around it
Zidane has selected Camavinga despite uneven club form at Real Madrid, and the midfielder made clear that he sees himself primarily in central areas rather than as an emergency left-back.
France have several players available on the left of defence, he noted with a smile, while stressing that he can contribute either as a holding midfielder or in a more advanced midfield role.
“I can help the team as a six or an eight, but everyone knows which position I prefer,” he said.
Camavinga’s first meeting with Zidane came away from the training ground, at the Madrid Formula 1 Grand Prix a few weeks ago. For a player now coached by one of France’s defining football figures, the moment still felt unusual.
“The first time I saw him was at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Madrid,” Camavinga said. “It was strange because we all know what he represents. He is my coach now, but at first it was quite special.”
He also backed Kylian Mbappé’s ability to operate from the left side of the attack under the new France coach, pointing to the forward’s impact in that role at the 2022 World Cup.
“He has played there before and he was excellent there at the 2022 World Cup,” Camavinga said. “Is he motivated? Yes. Is he ready to do the work? Yes as well.”
There was also a lighter note ahead of the Belgium match. Asked about the absence of Real Madrid team-mate Thibaut Courtois from the Belgian side, Camavinga replied with a grin: “I am very happy he is not there.”
