Zinedine Zidane secures ten points in first four matches as France manager

Ten points across four Nations League fixtures

France completed a dense sequence of four Nations League matches in eleven days across Izmit, Brussels, and Saint-Denis. The team earned ten points out of twelve available under newly appointed manager Zinedine Zidane. The run included two victories over Belgium, one win against Turkey, and a draw against Italy. The camp concluded on Monday, 5 October 2026, at Stade de France with a 4-1 victory over Belgium, where French substitutes scored four goals during the final thirteen minutes. Kylian Mbappe, serving as team captain, suffered an injury on the opening evening of the gathering, altering the squad's attacking options for the remaining fixtures.

Tactical transition and coaching philosophy

Zidane signed a four-year contract on 28 July 2026 to succeed Didier Deschamps, returning to management after leaving Real Madrid in May 2021, where he previously won three Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018. During his fourteen days with the squad at Clairefontaine and match venues, Zidane established a system anchored on three core elements: pressing, possession, and projection. The technical staff provided individualized video sessions for players while maintaining open communication throughout the camp. On the Sunday before the final match, Zidane linked his tactical intentions to the high-pressing style implemented by Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain.

Paris is a team that takes initiative, goes very high to challenge its opponents, wants to play with the ball, and not run behind it. Those are my principles.

Squad rotation and player evaluations

Zidane rotated his squad heavily across the four fixtures, calling up 23 players and giving 22 of them at least one start. Third goalkeeper Jean Butez was the only squad member who did not play competitive minutes. The manager introduced six newcomers from European clubs including Rennes, Toulouse, Bournemouth, and Como, at one point fielding a defensive line holding just ten combined senior caps. Winger Michael Olise featured prominently throughout the four matches and scored the opening goal in Brussels, while newcomers Jeremy Jacquet and Lucas Da Cunha made positive claims for future inclusion. Conversely, forward Ousmane Dembele and midfielder Maghnes Akliouche struggled to find form during the window.

Media engagements and managerial return

The 54-year-old coach conducted nine media appearances in three weeks across Paris, Izmit, Brussels, Saint-Denis, and Clairefontaine, though neither players nor staff gave individual interviews. Accompanied at all times by his bodyguard Staf, Zidane refrained from giving advance notice of his tactical lineups while consistently emphasizing his satisfaction at leading the national team. In Brussels on the eve of the match against Belgium, he reflected on the passage of time since his playing days, which included the 1998 World Cup title.

Football moves so fast. Look, I am 54 years old, I cannot play anymore. The French team is so beautiful that I want the players to experience these moments.

The conclusion of the four-match Nations League sequence marks the end of Zidane's introductory window, with French players returning to their respective domestic clubs ahead of the next international round.