Zidane Takes the Helm of France, Unveils First Squad with New Faces

Zinedine Zidane announced his inaugural France roster for the Nations League, introducing five newcomers—Esteban Lepaul (Rennes), Jérémy Jacquet (Liverpool), Lucas Da Cunha (Como), Andy Diouf (Inter Milan) and Guillaume Restes (Toulouse). He also recalled Adrien Truffert and confirmed the exclusion of veteran forward Karim Benzema and midfielder N'Golo Kanté. The 23-player list will be used for matches against Turkey, Belgium, Italy and Belgium again in the coming weeks.

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Zidane, a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid and the only manager to secure three successive titles, succeeded Didier Deschamps after the 2022 World Cup. His club record includes two La Liga crowns and a reputation for letting elite talent flourish, a style that sparked debate over his coaching genius. The French side, historically marked by disciplinary issues, seeks a fresh direction under Zidane’s “cipher-like” approach.

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• New caps: 5 players (Lepaul, Jacquet, Da Cunha, Diouf, Restes)

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• Recall: 1 player (Truffert) after a four-year absence

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• Veterans omitted: Benzema and Kanté

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• Squad size: 23 players, deliberately limited to avoid unused substitutes

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Zidane emphasized his desire to see the selected players in action, noting that each “deserves to be here.” He highlighted Jacquet’s profile, recalling his youth-team connection with Zidane’s son. Regarding Diouf, Zidane clarified that the midfielder will be deployed as a left-back for France, reflecting a different tactical role than at Inter Milan. Lepaul’s “different profile” and goal-scoring ability in tight spaces were cited as reasons for his inclusion. Zidane explained the exclusion of Benzema and Kanté as a move to “help this team evolve,” stressing that age, not quality, informed the decisions.

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• “What inspires me is the game,” — Bale. Perhaps Zidane, coach — Zinedine Zidane, France coach

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• “I like his profile a lot,” — Bale. Perhaps Zidane, coach — Zinedine Zidane, France coach

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• “Choosing Andy [Diouf] and Truffert is a strong choice,” — Bale. Perhaps Zidane, coach — Zinedine Zidane, France coach

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• “To help this team evolve. It's nothing to do with his quality, he's an extraordinary player, magnificent,” — Bale. Perhaps Zidane, coach — Zinedine Zidane, France coach

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• “I adore Karim. But he's a certain age, a bit like N'Golo,” — Bale. Perhaps Zidane, coach — Zinedine Zidane, France coach

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• “I didn't want to see players sitting in the stands,” — Bale. Perhaps Zidane, coach — Zinedine Zidane, France coach

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France travel to Turkey on Sept. 25, face Belgium three days later, host Italy on Oct. 2 and meet Belgium again on Oct. 5. The squad’s performance in these matches will indicate how Zidane’s selections translate into results for the national side.

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