In Kocaeli, on Turkey’s industrial coast east of Istanbul, Zinedine Zidane is preparing France for a different opening chapter. His first match as Les Bleus coach comes on Friday in Nations League Group A1, and the early work at Clairefontaine suggests a side less dependent on an all-out attacking selection and more shaped around balance, creative midfielders and new options for Kylian Mbappé.
The news from the club
Zidane succeeds Didier Deschamps with an intention to alter both the outline and the feel of the French team. Deschamps had increasingly used a 4-2-3-1 from March 2025, following Michael Olise’s emergence alongside Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola. The approach placed four major attacking threats in the same starting side, but its shortcomings were exposed when Spain beat France 2-0 in the 2026 World Cup semi-final.
Asked whether France could continue fielding four forwards, Zidane urged restraint rather than committing to that model. Tuesday’s training session pointed instead towards a 4-3-3, the formation closely associated with his years in charge of Real Madrid. It offers the midfield protection France lacked against eventual world champions Spain.
That does not mean a cautious France. Zidane wants his team to take command of matches, create chances and play with attacking purpose. On the day of his appointment, 28 July, the former France number 10 said that scoring goals remains what inspires him most.
His attention in the first camp has quickly settled on the squad’s more gifted technicians. Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki and Lucas Da Cunha have all been close to the new coach’s work, while Cherki could be used in midfield against Turkey. Zidane has described the Manchester City player as a true number 10, able to operate in the spaces between opposition lines.
Mbappé’s role could be among the most visible changes. He has occupied the central-forward position for France since Euro 2024, a role Deschamps was willing to grant his star player. Zidane sees a broader range of possibilities. The coach has noted that Mbappé can play across the front three and said he particularly enjoys watching the Real Madrid forward from the left.
Such a switch would reconnect Mbappé with earlier stages of his international career. France’s record scorer, with 66 goals from 106 appearances, first broke through on the right wing during the 2018 World Cup triumph in Russia before spending much of the period up to Euro 2024 on the left.
A compact squad for a demanding Nations League stretch
Zidane has selected 23 players for a run of four Nations League fixtures in ten days: Turkey on Friday, Turkey again in Saint-Denis on 5 October, plus meetings with Italy and Belgium. The limited squad size creates a realistic route to playing time for newcomers during the window.
Five members of the group are yet to make a senior France appearance: Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha, Inter’s Andy Diouf, Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul, and goalkeepers Jean Butez and Guillaume Restes.
Lepaul brings a profile France may need against an opponent defending deep. The Rennes forward finished as Ligue 1’s leading scorer last season with 21 goals. Da Cunha, initially a wide player before Cesc Fàbregas converted him into a midfielder at Como, has the technical qualities Zidane values.
Diouf, listed as a midfielder but called up to cover right-back, is also expected to have an opportunity. His minutes could allow Jules Koundé of Barcelona to be managed through a compressed international programme.
