Clairefontaine enters its final evening of this international window with Zinédine Zidane still keeping his cards close to his chest. France face Belgium in the Nations League on Monday at 20:45, and the head coach is expected to alter his starting side again, although not with the sweeping rotation seen earlier in the camp.
Three matches under Zidane have brought three different France line-ups, making change one of the defining features of his first gathering in charge. The coach had offered hints before last week’s trip to Belgium, but he gave little away when speaking on Sunday.
“There will be changes because this is our fourth match,” Zidane said. “We have to make sensible decisions and remain competitive. There are 23 of us, so everyone will be involved. Every player matters, there is competition for places, but I am counting on everybody.”
Only 21 players remain available, with central defender Lenny Yoro and goalkeepers Jean Butez and Guillaume Restes still waiting for their first minutes of the camp. Asked whether any of the three could start against Belgium, Zidane simply replied that the answer would come on Monday.
The France coach also insisted that his guarded approach should not be mistaken for a lack of honesty. Zidane said he may choose not to reveal certain details, but wants to be as sincere as possible in the messages he delivers, adding that he has strong convictions and a deep attachment to the national team.
Rotation expected, but on a smaller scale
France returned to work after Friday’s 1-1 draw with Italy at the Stade de France, spending the previous two days reviewing that performance on video. Zidane then led a tactical session at Clairefontaine on Sunday, following separate drills in which one group worked on finishing while another played tennis football.
The final training session of the camp offered no obvious clues about the intended XI. However, the expectation is that Zidane will be less radical than he was between his first and second matches, when nine players were changed. Five or six men who began Friday’s draw among the substitutes are likely to come into the side against Belgium.
Zidane remained heavily involved during Sunday afternoon’s work, while also sharing lighter moments with his players. He has repeatedly expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment shown by the squad during his first camp as France coach.
The work will not end with Monday night’s fixture. The full France staff will reconvene on Tuesday for a detailed review of the two-week gathering, assessing the period department by department before meeting collectively to exchange conclusions and ideas.
