France national team head coach Zinedine Zidane expressed high praise for 21-year-old defender Jeremy Jacquet following his standout performances in the UEFA Nations League, where the debutant stepped in following an injury to Ibrahima Konate, according to reports in The Athletic.
How Jacquet Earned His Place in the France Squad
Jacquet arrived in the French setup during the international window as a squad option intended to provide depth behind established central defenders Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano. When Konate sustained an injury, the coaching staff adjusted their plans. After spending the match against Turkey on the bench, Jacquet earned his first start in a fixture against Belgium and retained his place in the starting lineup for the subsequent match against Italy.
Defensive Output Against Italy
Playing alongside a rotating cast of defensive partners—first Maxence Lacroix, then Dayot Upamecano—Jacquet delivered a statistically active performance during the match against Italy. Match data records show he registered eight defensive contributions, which included three tackles, one block, two clearances, two interceptions, and two ball recoveries.
Zidane Praises Jacquet for Composure and Bravery
Zidane acknowledged the young defender’s composure on the ball and effectiveness in physical contests. Sangat bagus, sangat, sangat bagus,
Zidane told The Athletic, using the Indonesian-reported phrasing of the coach’s evaluation. Dia berani, tidak takut membawa bola ke depan. Sangat bagus dalam duel. Sekali lagi saya bilang dia sangat bagus. Saya sudah katakan sampai empat kali.
Reacting to the public endorsement from his manager, Jacquet admitted the experience surpassed his initial expectations. Lebih dari yang saya bayangkan (soal debut). Berlatih bareng para pemain hebat ini, sebuah kehormatan bagi saya. Saya cuma ingin menikmati setiap momen yang ada,
Jacquet said of his integration into the senior squad.
Upcoming Fixtures for Les Bleus
France concludes its current international schedule with a fixture against Belgium scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2026, in early-morning hours (WIB).
