Zinédine Zidane will face his first major test as France national team manager when the Bleus play Belgium in Brussels on Monday, September 29, 2026. France enters the Nations League clash without captain Kylian Mbappé, who is sidelined with a left knee injury, following a 1-0 victory over Turkey on Friday.
Mbappé Injury Forces Tactical Shift for Zidane
The absence of Kylian Mbappé creates a significant void in the French attack. Mbappé, the all-time leading scorer for France with 67 goals in 107 matches, suffered a left knee injury after scoring his 12th goal of the year during the match in Izmit. The captain has returned to Madrid and is unavailable for the next three international fixtures, which include the trip to Belgium and home matches against Italy and Belgium on October 2 and October 5 at the Stade de France.
Zidane had intended to use this first international window to implement a new offensive animation that would reposition Mbappé on the left side of the attack. With the striker out, Zidane confirmed in a Sunday press conference that the starting lineup would be altered, though he intends to remain committed to a 4-3-3 system.
Désiré Doué and the Ousmane Dembélé Selection Mystery
While Ousmane Dembélé, a vice-captain and Ballon d’Or winner, seemed the natural choice to lead the attack in Mbappé’s absence, tactical drills on Sunday suggested a different approach. Reports indicate that Désiré Doué played as the center-forward during the final training session, flanked by Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola.
Despite Doué’s role in training, Zidane spoke highly of Dembélé’s value to the squad. Zidane noted that Dembélé possesses a leadership role regardless of whether he wears the captain’s armband, citing his experience and energy. The manager added that the PSG attacker has the physical capacity to play all four matches scheduled for this autumn window. Dembélé comes into the match after a strong 2026 World Cup performance where he scored six goals.
Belgium’s New Cycle Under Mark van Bommel
Belgium enters this match in a transitional phase of its own. Following the departure of Rudi Garcia, the “Red Devils” are now led by former Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel. Belgium arrives in Brussels with momentum, having recently defeated Italy 2-0. Like France, Belgium was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup by Spain in a 2-1 loss.
The Belgian squad features a blend of established veterans and emerging talent. The attack is bolstered by 35-year-old Kevin De Bruyne and 33-year-old Romelu Lukaku, alongside Manchester United midfielder Youri Tielemans. Other key offensive threats include Loïs Openda, Charles De Ketelaere, Dodi Lukebakio, Mika Godts, and Diego Moreira, though Jérémy Doku was not called up for this window.
Pressure on French Defense at King Baudouin Stadium
The French defensive line, which faced little pressure during the victory over Turkey, is expected to face a much more rigorous test at the King Baudouin Stadium. Zidane acknowledged the difficulty of the matchup, describing Belgium as a very strong team with significant individual quality and collective strength based on their recent World Cup performance.
The match serves as a primary indicator for Zidane’s early tenure, testing how his players assimilate his tactical precepts compared to those of his predecessor, Didier Deschamps, while managing the loss of their most influential player.
Following the match in Brussels, France will return to the Stade de France to host Italy on October 2.
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