Zinédine Zidane’s first France squad announcement is approaching after weeks of quiet preparation, meetings and stadium visits. The new head coach will reveal his selections on Friday at 18:00, before the players report to Clairefontaine on Monday.
SEO Title: Zinédine Zidane prepares first France squad announcement
SEO Description: Zinédine Zidane and his expanded France staff have completed weeks of planning ahead of Friday’s first squad announcement and Monday’s Clairefontaine camp.
Zidane readies first France squad after staff overhaul
The change of era has been carefully planned behind closed doors. Zidane takes charge of France after 14 years under Didier Deschamps, with his staff seeking to make the opening camp as smooth as possible for players adapting to new faces, methods and routines.
Once his coaching group had been confirmed, Zidane brought together his wider team for a mid-August seminar at Clairefontaine. The gathering allowed staff members to meet, familiarise themselves with the national training centre and establish the broad organisation for the months ahead.
Quick facts
- Zidane will name his first France squad on Friday at 18:00.
- The first training camp under the new coach begins at Clairefontaine on Monday.
- David Bettoni and Stéphane Plancque have been assigned major player-monitoring duties.
- Arthur Hochedé has joined as a fitness coach after leaving Red Star.
- Serge Isidro replaces podiatrist Marc Retali in the medical department.
- Journalists will not have access to the usual player-arrival walk at Clairefontaine.
Zidane has also been watching players in person. His first match attendance since being formally appointed came at the Trophée des Champions at Stade Bollaert, while further scouting has been carried out by Bettoni and Plancque.
Plancque holds the official role of observer, and he and Bettoni have travelled to several grounds to assess France internationals and other players in the national-team frame. Their findings have been discussed directly with Zidane during technical meetings in Paris and Madrid, where the former France captain lives.
Work had begun even before the public announcement of Zidane’s appointment. Those close to the coach prepared discreetly, avoiding disruption to the outgoing set-up while putting elements of the new operation in place.
New arrivals in performance and medical roles
The staff has been strengthened in recent weeks, notably with the recruitment of Hochedé as a physical trainer. He arrives from Red Star, where Grégory Dupont is director of football alongside his strategic and performance advisory role with France.
Hochedé also previously worked at Club Africain in Tunisia during Bettoni’s time in charge of the club. The links within Zidane’s circle have helped shape a staff expected to contain more personnel than Deschamps’ previous structure.
There has also been movement in the medical unit. Retali, initially announced in mid-August as podiatrist, was subsequently removed from the planned staff after giving an interview to RMC. Isidro has taken the position instead.
Clairefontaine arrival kept out of view
Members of the new staff are already working at Clairefontaine to settle practical details before the squad assembles. The priority is to give players room to settle, understand the staff’s demands and meet the people now around the national team.
The opening days will be managed with particular control internally, with Zidane’s group keen to limit outside scrutiny during the transition. Monday’s traditional arrival parade, when players usually walk past waiting media, will therefore be closed to journalists.
Friday’s announcement is expected to attract intense attention. Zidane could name a larger-than-usual group and introduce fresh faces, while the presentation itself may depart from the old format in which Deschamps read out each selected player one by one.
