France football legend Jean-Pierre Papin praised the national team’s new attacking direction under Zinédine Zidane, admitting the style of play has brought back his excitement for Les Bleus.
Speaking at the théâtre du Dôme in Saumur on Saturday, November 14, 2026, the 1991 Ballon d’Or winner shared his thoughts on the squad during a public appearance hosted by Laurent Luyat, Courrier de l’Ouest reported.
“Sa nomination ? Elle est juste normale pour moi. C’est l’icône du football français,” Papin said, according to Courrier de l’Ouest, describing the appointment of Zidane as a natural transition for the national side.
The former striker, who netted 30 goals in 54 appearances for France, pointed to a clear evolution in how the team operates on the pitch compared to the tenure of former coach Didier Deschamps.
Papin acknowledged that the transition toward a faster, more forward-thinking setup requires patience from supporters and staff alike.
“Ce que je vois me plaît. Ce qu’il veut mettre en place, ça demande du temps,” Papin told Courrier de l’Ouest. “On a eu les premières prémices avec des victoires et surtout, un style de jeu un peu plus rapide, un peu plus offensif, que ce qu’on a pu observer ces dernières années, sous l’ère Didier Deschamps.”
Papin said that committing more numbers to the attack leaves the defense vulnerable to quick counter-attacks, citing a recent setback in Italy on Thursday night.
“J’avais dit que je voulais avoir des frissons en voyant les Bleus et j’ai des frissons à nouveau !” Papin concluded.
Papin carved out a storied playing career during the 1980s and 1990s, starring for Olympique de Marseille where he won four Division 1 titles from 1989 to 1992 and claimed the 1991 Ballon d’Or.
Renowned for his trademark volleys known as “papinades,” he also secured two Serie A titles and a UEFA Champions League trophy with AC Milan, alongside a UEFA Cup victory with Bayern Munich in 1996.
Following his retirement from professional playing stints that included FC Bruges, Girondins de Bordeaux, and Guingamp, Papin transitioned into coaching, taking charge of clubs such as RC Strasbourg (juillet 2006 – juin 2007) and RC Lens (août 2007 – juin 2008).
