The cars will still roll up beneath the trees at Clairefontaine, and France’s internationals will still step out in front of the cameras. But under Zinédine Zidane, the opening act of an international break is set to look rather different.
France’s new head coach has ordered a change to the traditional player arrivals at the national training centre. From Monday, journalists and independent photographers will no longer be allowed to attend the squad’s arrival at Clairefontaine, with the French Football Federation taking exclusive responsibility for filming and photographing the occasion.
The material produced by Federation photographers, camera operators and video staff will then be supplied to media organisations for free use. The images are therefore expected to remain widely available, including on social media, but the gathering of reporters at the foot of the château will come to an end.
Zidane seeks a quieter start to camp
In recent years, the start of a France camp had developed into a heavily watched visual event. Around 20 photographers and cameramen would often wait for close to an hour as players arrived, with the outfits worn by the squad attracting increasing attention well beyond French football.
Fashion discussions began to feature in television coverage, while the pictures regularly generated millions of views online. Media attendance grew from one gathering to the next, and a blue carpet was introduced for the final camp before the World Cup, adding another layer of staging to the players’ entrance.
Zidane’s staff want to draw a line under that growing sense of spectacle. Their position is that the new system will be more practical and fairer for media outlets, since all will receive the same Federation-produced footage and photographs rather than competing for access.
There is also a broader intention to restore a more private status to Clairefontaine, which serves as the players’ home during international duty. The surroundings of the château will now be reserved for France players and Federation personnel, while Zidane wants the first moments of each camp to place greater emphasis on football and preparation.
The commercial visibility will not disappear entirely. The arrival sequence will continue to feature the Federation’s automotive partner, as well as brands associated with individual players. Yet the independent media scrum and its increasingly elaborate red-carpet atmosphere will no longer be part of the scene.
France’s stars will still arrive, and the world will still see them. Under Zidane, however, the walk into Clairefontaine is intended to lead more directly towards the pitch.
