Goalkeeper Jean Butez, formerly of Royal Antwerp FC, has earned a selection for the French national team ahead of their upcoming matches against the Belgian Red Devils, according to recent sporting reports.
Zidane Shapes First Squad as Les Bleus Head Coach
The selection marks a notable early milestone for Zinédine Zidane in his managerial tenure with the French national setup. According to sports reports published by outlets including Sporza and VoetbalPrimeur.be, the newly appointed manager has introduced five new names to the French squad during his inaugural selection phase. Alongside the roster announcement, Zidane confirmed forward Kylian Mbappé as his team captain, setting an immediate leadership tone for the squad.
Notable Omissions and Roster Shuffles
While Butez’s inclusion provides a fresh face in the French goalkeeping department, Zidane’s initial squad sheet also left out several prominent figures. According to coverage from Voetbalkrant.com and Het Belang van Limburg (HBVL), veteran midfielder N’Golo Kanté was notably omitted from the selection, alongside other surprising absences that drew attention ahead of the fixture against Belgium.
Across the border in rival preparations, parallel squad updates emerged. Reports indicate that former Anderlecht player Sebastiano Esposito has been brought into the Italian setup by manager Roberto Mancini ahead of their own fixtures against the Belgian side, according to HBVL.
Fixture Context and What Lies Ahead
The inclusion of Butez adds a familiar Belgian Pro League connection to the high-profile international encounters against the Red Devils.
Both the French and Belgian national teams are finalizing their tactical preparations for the upcoming international window. Fans and analysts will monitor how Zidane integrates his five debutants—including Butez—into the core framework of Les Bleus as they face their neighbors in the upcoming fixtures.
Related reading
