Zinédine Zidane opened his tenure as France’s national football team manager on July 28 by declaring that his squad would not overexert tactical experiments while immediately installing Kylian Mbappé on the left wing. Taking charge of the Équipe Tricolore at age 54, the former Real Madrid coach laid out a vision centered on player autonomy, placing his captain back in the wide role where he won the 2018 World Cup.
The appointment of Zidane addresses structural issues from the previous World Cup cycle, specifically targeting the left side of the pitch where France struggled during their 2–0 semifinal exit against Spain. Rather than utilizing Mbappé as a central striker—a role he periodically filled under Didier Deschamps and at club level—Zidane deployed him wide during his debut training camp in Turkey before a knee injury forced the forward to depart early.
Tactical Blueprint for Mbappé and the Attack
Zidane’s framework relies on giving his captain maximum spatial freedom to utilize his pace against opposing defenders. Former France international Robert Pirès analyzed the tactical shift during an appearance on Canal+, noting the inherent risks of moving the nation’s premier attacker away from the central channel.
“Ausgerechnet Mbappé, also den wichtigsten Spieler unserer Nationalelf, wieder auf dem linken Flügel einzusetzen, obwohl er sowohl bei Real als auch unter Deschamps in der vordersten Spitze agierte, trägt ein gewisses Risiko bei – aber ‚Zizou‘ war schon immer mutig,” Pirès told Canal+, describing the decision as a clear message that the manager prioritizes comfort in preferred positions. Alongside Mbappé, Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Olise receives extensive freedom on the right wing, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé operates centrally as a focal point.
Defensive Adjustments on the Left Flank
Allowing Mbappé freedom on the left flank necessitates a rigorous defensive safety net behind him. To solve the vulnerability that plagued France during the previous tournament—where neither Théo Hernandez nor Lucas Digne secured the position—Zidane’s staff is evaluating two newcomers: Andy Diouf and Adrien Truffert.
Diouf has featured primarily as a right wing-back for Inter Milan this season, but the coaching staff views him as a viable left-back candidate. Concurrently, Truffert has found strong form under manager Marco Rose at Bournemouth, offering another option to prevent counter-attacking overloads on the flank.
Zidane Uses Humility and Charm to Command Player Loyalty
Beyond tactical alignments, former teammates emphasize that Zidane’s core asset remains his personal humility and player-centric management style. Youri Djorkaeff highlighted the manager’s meticulous work ethic in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
“Zizou war immer schon ein akribischer Arbeiter, der sehr fleißig ist und alles dafür tut, dass sich jeder Spieler pudelwohl fühlt,” Djorkaeff told the F.A.Z., adding that the manager commands natural authority and a charm that commands absolute loyalty from the squad.
The tactical modifications and personnel evaluations underway mark the opening phase of Zidane’s preparation to challenge Spain’s standing in European football ahead of the next continental championship.
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