After a World Cup in the United States watched from the sidelines, several familiar figures of France’s recent past have been left facing a quieter international break. Zinédine Zidane used his first squad announcement as France coach on Friday to signal a clear change of direction.
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Zidane is planning across a four-season cycle and has chosen to prioritise younger options, with Paris Saint-Germain defender Lucas Hernandez among the notable omissions. The 30-year-old did not play a minute at the World Cup, and neither did N’Golo Kanté, whose regular starts for Fenerbahçe were not enough to secure another call-up.
Kanté, now 35, received a warm public tribute from the new coach, but Zidane made clear that sentiment would not decide his squad.
“I want to congratulate him for what he has been, for being such an exemplary player,” Zidane said. “But he is 35 and I have choices to make.”
Karim Benzema is also outside Zidane’s plans despite their long-standing connection. The former France striker is 38, and Zidane believes the next stage requires a younger group.
“I admire everything he has achieved,” Zidane said of Benzema. “But I need to look at younger players.”
The overhaul extends to the left side. Theo Hernandez has not been selected, while Lucas Digne also misses out as Andy Diouf and Adrien Truffert are handed opportunities in that area of the pitch.
Youth, however, has not guaranteed a place. Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche, 24, and Chelsea defender Malo Gusto, 23, were both left out after limited involvement in the United States. Jean-Philippe Mateta, injured since the end of August, and Inter forward Marcus Thuram are absent as well. Mateta and Thuram are both 29.
Zidane insisted that Akliouche and Gusto have not been definitively pushed down the pecking order. He selected 20 outfield players in order to avoid leaving anyone in the stands, and said the pair remain in contention.
“They can be selected and perhaps they will be in the next gathering,” he said. “There has been no change in the hierarchy.”
The message is less reassuring for every player left behind. Brice Samba, 32, has reason to be concerned after 21-year-old Guillaume Restes was included among the three goalkeepers as Zidane refreshes the position.
The next France gathering
Not every omission carries the same finality. Aurélien Tchouaméni can regard this absence as a temporary setback, while Akliouche and Gusto retain a route back into the squad.
But Zidane has picked 23 players to make their case before the next international window. For those absent from his first selection, the race to catch that train has already begun.
