L’ère Zinédine Zidane in the French national team has officially begun at Clairefontaine, bringing immediate tactical shifts and standout performances from unexpected quarters.
The primary tactical takeaway from the session is a decisive move away from the 4-2-3-1 formation favored by Didier Deschamps during his final tenure, including the recent World Cup campaign. Zidane deployed his players in a fluid 4-3-3 structure during training. Media reports indicate this tactical adjustment is designed to maximize personnel strengths, specifically positioning Kylian Mbappé—who missed Tuesday’s session due to a flu-like syndrome—on the left wing, while shifting Ousmane Dembélé into a central attacking role mirroring his duties under Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain.
Midfielders and Young Talents Stand Out Under Zidane
During a tactical drill focusing on diagonal ball movement and rapid passing sequences across the pitch, three players caught the manager’s eye. According to sports daily accounts, central midfielders Lucas Da Cunha and Rayan Cherki earned repeated praise from the 1998 World Cup winner during an exercise conducted without an opposing team. Zidane reportedly spent several minutes in direct conversation with 25-year-old Da Cunha following the session, rewarding the Como midfielder’s vision and distribution with high-level feedback.
In addition to the central pairing, playmaker Michael Olise received frequent public encouragement from the technical staff throughout the afternoon. Observers noted that Zidane maintained an active, vocal presence on the grass, actively correcting positioning and demanding a proactive, possession-oriented style of play. Da Cunha, reflecting on his call-up, told journalists on September 19 that working under a national icon represents an immense pride, having previously watched the team’s 2018 World Cup triumph as a fan.
Preparation Ahead of UEFA Nations League Opener
The training camp serves as the final preparation window before France departs for Turkey for their opening fixture in the UEFA Nations League. With squad availability fluctuating due to minor illnesses such as Mbappé’s absence on Tuesday, the technical staff utilized the opening sessions to drill positional balance and high-tempo transitions. Zidane stated upon his appointment that his primary objective is ensuring the national team dictates the rhythm of matches while maintaining defensive structure when out of possession.
The squad will continue training at the National Football Centre in Clairefontaine before finalizing travel arrangements for the match against Turkey.
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