The Stade de France is waiting, and Zinédine Zidane has used the long week to make sure his leading men arrive with something left in their legs. France face Italy on Friday at 20:45, with the new coach preparing for his first home match in charge after two 1-0 wins away from Paris.
Zidane rotated heavily in Belgium on Monday, following Friday’s victory in Turkey. Nine of the 10 outfield starters were changed between the two matches, a clear sign that the Italy fixture has been treated as the central date of this international window.
Quick facts
- France beat Turkey 1-0 last Friday and Belgium 1-0 on Monday.
- Italy visit the Stade de France on Friday, with kick-off set for 20:45.
- All 22 members of the France squad were available for Wednesday’s training.
- France are working within an unusually compressed run of four matches in 11 days.
- Mike Maignan and Maxence Lacroix are the only players to have started both previous games.
Several senior players were either rested in Brussels or introduced after the break, allowing Zidane to protect his likely starters. The squad were given Tuesday off before returning to Clairefontaine for dinner, then resumed work behind closed doors on Wednesday afternoon.
The hour-long session in the Yvelines focused on tactical organisation and technical drills. Zidane’s staff have been installing their ideas since the start of last week, but the packed schedule has left little space for extended preparation.
There will be one more training session at the Stade de France on Thursday. However, the line-up work carried out before the Belgium match did not fully predict the side that started, so the final selection remains open.
Midfield and defensive questions remain
Zidane has little apparent reason to abandon the 4-3-3 shape that functioned well against Belgium. Ousmane Dembélé, Rayan Cherki, Michael Olise and Manu Koné, all used from the start on Monday, are among the strongest candidates to return to the XI.
Koné, now with AS Roma, began the Turkey match as the holding midfielder despite being more regularly used as a No. 8 or in a double pivot during the last World Cup. He said the role had not required a major adjustment.
“A midfielder has to be able to play in different areas, and I have played there before,” Koné said. “It does not change things much for me and I enjoyed it. I like to get forward, but I manage games according to what the team needs.”
He also praised the early work under Zidane, saying the coach was pleased that the players had absorbed his instructions despite limited training time. Koné is competing with Lucas Da Cunha for the defensive midfield position.
One possible route would be a return to the team that started in Turkey, with Désiré Doué filling in for the injured Kylian Mbappé. Yet the Belgium performance has offered Zidane alternatives, particularly in defence.
Jérémy Jacquet is among those who impressed in Brussels and could come in for Lacroix. The defender, alongside goalkeeper Maignan, has been the only France player selected from the start in both of Zidane’s first two matches.
