French football has entered a new era with Zinedine Zidane taking over as head coach from Didier Deschamps in 2026. Zidane, a legendary player who won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European championships during his 108 caps as a France player, started his new role on a positive note with a 1-0 win against Turkey in the opening Nations League tie in League A Group 1. His team was led to victory by a 67th international goal from Kylian Mbappé.
However, the win came at a cost as Mbappé left the game with a knee injury and has been ruled out of France's remaining three Nations League games during the international break. Ousmane Dembélé took the captain's armband when Mbappé was substituted and will skipper the team in their upcoming match against Belgium. Zidane praised Dembélé, describing him as a good guy who always puts in an incredible amount of energy and has impressive work rate.
Zidane's France will face a tough challenge when they take on Belgium, who began their new era under coach Mark van Bommel with an impressive 2-0 victory in Rome against Italy. Belgium's goals were scored by Paris Saint-Germain striker Mika Godts and Benfica forward Dodi Lukébakio. Zidane acknowledged that Belgium is a very good team with outstanding individuals and collectively, they will pose a difficult match for France.
The French national team's next match will be against Italy at the Stade de France on 2 October, a venue where Zidane's two goals in the 1998 World Cup final inspired France to a 3-0 victory over Brazil and their first World Cup trophy. France then host Belgium at the same venue on 5 October for their fourth game in the group. Zidane emphasized that he wants his players to enjoy the moment and experience the beauty of playing for the French national team.
As a renowned figure in football, Zidane is accustomed to a life in the spotlight, but he said he is not looking for attention. He emphasized that his focus is on doing his job with his players and trying to put something in place that will allow them to win matches. Zidane's approach to coaching and his experience as a player are expected to bring a new dynamic to the French team.
The Nations League campaign is heating up, with the top two from the four groups in League A advancing to the last eight next March. The semi-finals will be played on 9 and 10 June 2027, and the final on 13 June. Zidane's France will need to be at their best to navigate the competition and make a strong impression in the tournament.
As Zidane settles into his new role, he will look to build on the momentum from their win against Turkey and prepare his team for the challenges ahead. With a mix of experienced players like Dembélé and young talents like Mbappé, France has a strong squad to compete against top teams in the Nations League.
Key points
- Zidane takes over as France head coach from Didier Deschamps.
- France won their opening Nations League tie 1-0 against Turkey.
- Mbappé scored in the win but was ruled out of upcoming games with a knee injury.
