Zidane Unveils First France Squad, Opens Door to New Generation

Zinedine Zidane has named his first France squad since taking charge of the national team, introducing several new faces as he begins reshaping the side ahead of the UEFA Nations League and the 2028 European Championship.

Liverpool defender Jérémy Jacquet is among the notable additions to the 23-man squad, while Guillaume Restes, Andy Diouf, Lucas da Cunha and Estéban Lepaul have also been included in Zidane’s first selection.

The former Real Madrid manager, who succeeded Didier Deschamps in July, has combined established names with emerging talents as France begins a new cycle following its appearance in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kylian Mbappé remains the team’s captain, with Ousmane Dembélé, Mike Maignan, Ibrahima Konaté and Jules Koundé among the senior players retained.

Eduardo Camavinga returns to the squad after missing the 2026 World Cup, while Aurélien Tchouaméni is absent because of fitness concerns. Other notable omissions include N’Golo Kanté, Lucas Digne, Marcus Thuram and the Hernández brothers.

The selection has also renewed discussions about the international future of Karim Benzema, who has not been included as Zidane places emphasis on developing younger players.

Zidane’s first match in charge will be against Türkiye on September 25, before France faces Belgium and Italy during the international window. The new coach is expected to use the Nations League fixtures to assess his options and establish the foundations of his team for the next major tournament cycle.

Zidane returns to the France setup with an extensive record at club level, having guided Real Madrid to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles. His appointment is intended to help France convert its recent strong tournament performances into further silverware.

The new France coach has also introduced changes to the team’s media operations, including tighter control over coverage of player arrivals at Clairefontaine, signalling a more private and focused working environment under his leadership.