In the first days of Zinedine Zidane’s France reign, attention has already turned to the shape of an attack packed with familiar names but open to fresh interpretation. The new France coach begins his tenure on Monday with Kylian Mbappé potentially returning to the left side rather than operating as the central forward.
Mbappé has largely been used through the middle for Real Madrid, but Zidane has indicated that he sees wider possibilities for the captain of the French national side. Speaking when announcing his squad, Zidane stressed the forward’s ability to occupy any position across the front line.
“He can play in all three attacking roles. He has said that himself,” Zidane said. “Personally, I really like watching him play on the left.”
The role would not be unfamiliar to Mbappé. Before becoming a regular central presence, the Real Madrid player began his France career chiefly from the left flank, where he could attack space facing goal. A return there would also echo the position occupied by Vinícius Júnior at club level in Madrid.
Such a change would have consequences elsewhere in the French forward line. Ousmane Dembélé is being considered for the centre-forward role, allowing Mbappé to begin from the left under Zidane’s new arrangement.
France’s opening match of the Zidane era will offer the first clear indication of whether those early ideas become a lasting adjustment or simply one option in a squad with considerable attacking depth.
