Zidane's France Squad: Star Power Meets Future Ambition
The Zinedine Zidane era with France officially took shape today. Not with a press conference soundbite or a glossy photoshoot, but with a list of 23 names that makes his intentions unmistakably clear.
This is not a gentle transition. It’s a reset with teeth.
Mbappé Leads, Dembele and Olise Headline Star-Studded Core
After replacing Didier Deschamps in the summer, Zidane has chosen continuity at the top of the squad and disruption underneath it. Fifteen players from the recent World Cup have been retained, forming the spine of his first list for the 2026-2027 Nations League campaign.
Kylian Mbappé remains the captain and the face of the project. Around him, Zidane leans on proven brilliance: Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise give France a devastating attacking edge on the flanks. With that trio, the message is blunt: France are not easing their way into League A; they intend to dominate it.
They will need to. The draw has placed them in a demanding group alongside Türkiye, Belgium, and Italy. It’s a section that punishes hesitation. Zidane has picked a squad that looks built for tempo, aggression, and ambition.
Five New Faces, One Clear Direction
Beneath the familiar names, the real story of this list emerges. Zidane has turned to five uncapped players, dipping into the depth of French football with a very deliberate hand.
At the back, Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet receives his first senior call-up, stepping into the frame in the absence of Arsenal centre-back William Saliba. It is a bold elevation, and not an accidental one. With Saliba missing, Zidane has chosen not to lean on another veteran, but to test a new defender at the highest level.
Jacquet is not alone. Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes joins him as another newcomer, while Inter Milan full-back Andy Diouf also breaks through. Those three selections reshape the defensive and goalkeeping hierarchy in one stroke.
The refresh continues in midfield and attack. Como playmaker Lucas Da Cunha has been rewarded with a place, a nod to his creativity and influence at club level. Up front, Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul forces his way in after finishing as Ligue 1’s top scorer last season. His inclusion feels less like a gamble and more like an overdue acknowledgment of domestic dominance.
These five names are not window dressing. They point to a coach already thinking beyond the next international break, towards a full cycle that runs into Euro 2028.
Big Names Left Behind
New blood comes at a cost. Zidane has not tried to hide from that.
Several pillars of the Deschamps era have been left out of this first squad. N'Golo Kante, Lucas Hernandez, and Lucas Digne are among the most notable absentees. All three have carried France shirts in major tournaments, all three know what it means to navigate the pressure of knockout football. None of them are here.
Their omission is more than a rotation call. It signals a tactical and generational shift. Zidane is clearly ready to move away from automatic selections based on past service and instead shape a group that fits his own blueprint.
Saliba’s absence, whether enforced or not, only sharpens that impression. Without him, the defensive line undergoes significant restructuring. France have depth, yes, but choosing not to lean on some of the most experienced figures shows Zidane’s willingness to make tough decisions early rather than gradually phase players out.
He is not clinging to the comfort of names that once delivered. He is building something that must deliver again.
A Fierce Start to the Zidane Era
There will be no soft landing. France open the Zidane era next Friday away to Türkiye in Kocaeli, a fixture that rarely allows visitors any rhythm or calm. It will be an immediate test of temperament for the newcomers and a chance for the old guard to show they still set the standard.
From there, the schedule tightens. On September 28, France travel to Brussels to face Belgium, a meeting that always carries a hint of rivalry and a lot of scrutiny. Then comes the return home.
The Stade de France will stage a heavyweight clash with Italy on October 2, followed by a second encounter with Belgium on October 5. Four games, three major opponents, one brand-new project under the brightest of spotlights.
Zidane has put his name to this squad. Youth beside experience, reputations challenged, places up for grabs. The list he released today is not just a roll call; it is a statement.
Now the question is simple: will this new France grow into a team that defines the next era of European football, or will these bold early cuts come back to haunt them when the real pressure hits?
