Fourteen days into Zinédine Zidane’s first camp as France coach, the early picture is one of a team moving at speed. Les Bleus finished the gathering unbeaten, taking three wins and a draw from four matches, with the 4-1 demolition of Belgium offering the clearest evidence yet of a new direction.
Zidane’s staff will meet on Tuesday to review a camp that brought sweeping changes on and off the pitch. Seven players were entering this international environment for the first time, while many of the longer-serving squad members had to adjust after years under Didier Deschamps.
A new tactical framework
France have adopted a markedly different approach under Zidane: a 4-3-3 system, aggressive pressing high up the field and individual marking in defence. The players were asked to absorb the instructions quickly, and several felt the group had done so despite the short preparation time.
Leny Yoro, impressive on his senior international debut, said the squad had responded well to the coach’s demands. France would have preferred a clean sweep of four victories, he admitted, but described the camp as highly encouraging and stressed how rapidly the players had adapted tactically.
Andy Diouf also pointed to the speed of the adjustment. The midfielder has been learning an unfamiliar role at left-back and acknowledged the expected difficulties, but believes he made progress. He described the final 15 minutes against Belgium as “a little crazy”, yet saw the overall performance as proof that France could implement new ideas quickly.
The Belgium result also highlighted the impact of Michael Olise, whose performances drew admiration inside the squad. Diouf called him an extraordinary player.
Daily routines reshaped
The overhaul has extended beyond tactical meetings. Players have encountered changes to meal arrangements, schedules, pre-match activation work and a more individualised programme. Training sessions have carried a greater tactical emphasis, with some members of the squad feeling the new set-up resembles the methods they experience at club level.
The newcomers were particularly positive about the close involvement of the staff and the atmosphere around the group. Their first camp has been viewed as a valuable platform before France meet Italy on 12 November and Turkey three days later.
There was one early disruption, with tension between Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé briefly cooling the mood. It did not define the camp, however. The wider atmosphere remained close to that experienced in Boston during the summer World Cup.
Rayan Cherki said the unity was striking across both players and staff, adding that such a healthy environment was visible in France’s performances. Goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, meanwhile, noted that the next gathering is only a month away.
For Zidane, the first accounting is favourable: unbeaten results, a major win over Belgium and a squad beginning to understand a radically altered framework. The more demanding test will be whether that encouraging first burst can become a habit when France reconvene in November.
