The first squad of Zinédine Zidane’s France reign carried a clear message on Friday: the door is not reopening for Karim Benzema or N’Golo Kanté. There was warmth in the new Les Bleus coach’s words, but no ambiguity about the direction he intends to take over the next four years.
Asked at his press conference whether Benzema could return to international football, Zidane smiled and said the question did not upset him. But the former Real Madrid manager, who worked closely with the striker in Spain, made clear that he wants to build with younger players.
“I love Karim,” Zidane said. “He is 38 and I admire everything he has achieved in his career, but I need to see younger players. That takes nothing away from what he did with France.”
Benzema finished his France career with 97 caps and 37 goals. Zidane’s comments came after the announcement of his first squad as national-team coach, with the former midfielder beginning a four-year spell in charge of the 2018 world champions.
Kanté also outside Zidane’s plans
Zidane delivered a similarly respectful verdict on Kanté, another major figure of France’s recent era. The midfielder, now 35, also appears to have reached the end of his international chapter under the new coach.
“I love him too,” Zidane said. “I want to congratulate him for what he was, for being such an exemplary player. But he is 35, I have four years leading this team and I have decisions to make.”
The message was one of transition rather than dismissal. Zidane praised two players who helped shape France’s modern history, but his first selection has underlined that the next cycle will be built with fresh legs and a younger core.
