Zidane names first France squad with several fresh faces

Zinedine Zidane has taken his first formal step as France head coach by naming a 23-man squad for the national team’s upcoming September and October camp. His first selection keeps several of the side’s established pillars in place, but it also signals change, with a number of recent World Cup figures left out and four players receiving their first call-up.

Zidane begins with a blend of continuity and change

Speaking about taking charge of France, Zidane described the role as both a continuation and, in some ways, the fulfilment of a dream. That sense of balance is reflected in his opening squad list.

France’s core remains intact. Kylian Mbappe headlines the group, while Michael Olise, Adrien Rabiot, Dayot Upamecano and Mike Maignan are also included. Those names give Zidane a familiar spine as he prepares to lead the team on the pitch for the first time.

At the same time, the new manager has made notable changes compared with the squad from the World Cup. Several well-known names who were recently involved in that run are absent for various reasons, underlining that Zidane’s tenure is beginning with clear decisions rather than a simple carry-over from the previous cycle.

Notable absentees and a return from Real Madrid

Among the players missing from this squad are William Saliba of Arsenal, Lucas Digne of PSG, Malo Gusto of Chelsea, Lucas Hernandez of PSG, Theo Hernandez of Al-Hilal, Marcus Thuram of Inter Milan and Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid.

Tchouameni’s absence is particularly eye-catching given his standing, but Zidane has brought back his Real Madrid team-mate Eduardo Camavinga. That recall adds a familiar elite-level option to the midfield and offers one of the clearest signs of how Zidane may reshape the group without abandoning experience altogether.

Four debutants earn their chance

The most striking feature of the squad is the presence of four debutants. Zidane has handed first call-ups to Esteban Lepaul, Jeremy Jacquet, Andy Diouf and Lucas Da Cunha.

• Esteban Lepaul is the club team-mate of Sebastian Szymanski and Przemyslaw Frankowski.
• Lepaul was the top scorer in Ligue 1 last season with 21 goals.
• Jeremy Jacquet joined Liverpool from Rennais this summer for around 63 million euros.
• Andy Diouf plays alongside Piotr Zielinski at club level.

For a first squad, that is a significant injection of new blood. It suggests Zidane is willing to reward form and potential while also broadening the pool available to him early in his reign.

A demanding Nations League start awaits

Zidane’s France side will not have much time to settle. Four difficult matches await in Nations League A, providing an immediate test of both the squad’s depth and the manager’s early ideas.

France are scheduled to face Turkey away on 25 September, Belgium away on 28 September, Italy at home on 2 October and Belgium again at home on 5 October. It is a demanding sequence against high-level opposition, and one that should offer a quick indication of how Zidane intends to shape this new chapter for the national team.

For now, the headline is clear: France remain built around major stars, but Zidane’s first squad also carries the imprint of a coach ready to make his own calls from the outset.