Opinions, analysis and commentary
Zidane is reshaping France by necessity as much as design, with injuries pushing Maxence Lacroix, Manu Koné and Rayan Cherki into a new-look side for his debut against Türkiye at Kocaeli Stadium. William Saliba, Ibrahima Konaté and Aurélien Tchouaméni are all missing, and Leny Yoro has earned a surprise call-up. Mbappé keeps the armband, Olise arrives in career-best form, and a move from the 4-2-3-1 toward a 4-3-3 is underway. His opening squad already looks different from the World Cup group.
Deschamps’ 14-year reign closed with fourth place at the 2026 World Cup. France lost 2-0 to eventual champions Spain in the semi-final, then 6-4 to England in a wild third-place play-off in Miami, where Kylian Mbappé became the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Zidane, appointed until 2030, named his first 23-man group on September 18 for four matches against Türkiye, Belgium twice and Italy. William Saliba (ankle), Marcus Thuram and Jean-Philippe Mateta all missed out injured, and Aurélien Tchouaméni was left out as a precaution after a muscle problem at Real Madrid.
N’Golo Kanté’s absence comes down to international retirement. Days later, Real Madrid’s Ibrahima Konaté withdrew with a knee injury, and Manchester United’s Leny Yoro was drafted in as cover.
Zidane kept Mbappé as captain and named Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembélé and Jules Koundé as vice-captains. That spreads leadership wider than under Deschamps. Michael Olise arrives in the best form of his career. The 2025-26 Bundesliga Player of the Season scored 15 league goals with 19 assists last term, and he already has eight goals and three assists in all competitions this season, including a hat-trick in Bayern Munich’s 7-0 win over Union Berlin.
The left side is more crowded. Désiré Doué, who scored twice in PSG’s 2025 Champions League final win, is competing with Cherki and Bradley Barcola for a role; Deschamps rotated between Doué and Barcola.
Deschamps leaned on a 4-2-3-1 at the World Cup: Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Tchouaméni, Rabiot; Dembélé, Olise, Barcola; Mbappé. Zidane preferred a 4-3-3 at Real Madrid and is expected to move France toward that shape, though injuries leave the back line unsettled before Türkiye.
| Position | Deschamps World Cup XI | Zidane First XI | Key Change |
| Goalkeeper | Mike Maignan | Mike Maignan | Unchanged number one |
| Right-back | Jules Koundé | Jules Koundé | Unchanged and trusted |
| Centre-back | William Saliba | Dayot Upamecano | Saliba injured; Upamecano leads |
| Centre-back | Dayot Upamecano | Maxence Lacroix | Chelsea defender starts amid injuries |
| Left-back | Lucas Digne / Theo Hernández | Adrien Truffert | Recalled for overlapping energy |
| Midfield | Aurélien Tchouaméni | Manu Koné | Anchors the base of midfield |
| Midfield | Adrien Rabiot | Andy Diouf / Rabiot | Inter’s Diouf adds box-to-box power |
| Right wing | Ousmane Dembélé | Ousmane Dembélé | Asked to play narrower |
| No.10 | Michael Olise | Rayan Cherki | Manchester City’s Cherki becomes chief creator |
| Left wing | Bradley Barcola | Michael Olise | Drifts across both flanks |
| Striker | Kylian Mbappé | Kylian Mbappé | Central focal point and captain |
The biggest shifts run through the spine. Cherki’s arrival as the advanced creator frees Olise to roam.
Yoro’s promotion came just a day before kickoff. The 20-year-old had been on Under-21 duty at the time, and this is his first senior call-up. He is the seventh fresh name in Zidane’s opening window. The original squad already carried five uncapped players, Guillaume Restes, Jérémy Jacquet, Lucas Da Cunha, Andy Diouf and Estéban Lepaul, plus Adrien Truffert’s recall after four years away.
Lacroix stays in the defensive picture too. Now at Chelsea after a summer move from Crystal Palace, he made three World Cup appearances under Deschamps.
Before kickoff at Kocaeli Stadium, Zidane admitted the emotion of his coaching debut might top his playing debut more than three decades earlier. He made clear that winning matters most to him, and he rated Türkiye a very good side capable of causing France problems.
Rabiot added that the spotlight on Zidane has given the players welcome breathing room. With Türkiye, Belgium and Italy sharing League A, Group 1, there’s little time to experiment. The France Nations League 2026 27 lineup will keep changing as injured names return. This window will show how quickly Zidane’s new-look side takes shape, and whether his 4-3-3 holds up.
Should Cherki or Doué own the creative role in Zidane’s France? Tell us your pick in the comments.
Following international ‘A’ team tours, bilateral series, and domestic red-ball fixtures require dependable broadcast access. Sports Live Hub (SLH) has established itself as the ultimate digital aggregator, delivering seamless, high-definition sports streaming directly to fans worldwide without technical friction.
Finding clean, uninterrupted video feeds for overseas developmental fixtures can often prove challenging. The hub sports live stream framework on SLH solves this by aggregating verified, ultra-high-definition broadcast links from official sports networks globally. Whether you are tracking Towhid Hridoy’s historic double-century march or following South African domestic pitches, SLH ensures a low-latency, buffer-free connection. The intuitive interface utilizes simple and easy text navigation, enabling users to find active match links instantly.
Modern cricket enthusiasts expect deep analytical tools alongside live video feeds. The sport hub live streaming interface on SLH operates as an advanced interactive match center. While streaming live fixtures, users can access real-time statistical overlays, including ball-by-ball commentary, wagon wheels, projected run-rates, and batting partnership graphs. This comprehensive digital environment empowers fans to analyze player milestones and team strategies with absolute clarity.
A primary concern for international cricket fans is discovering legitimate methods for how to watch Sports live for free without encountering cybersecurity risks. SLH actively addresses this by maintaining a strictly vetted directory of authorized Free-to-Air (FTA) regional channels and official ad-supported streaming platforms. By directing users exclusively to safe, legal portals, SLH guarantees that premium cricket coverage remains completely budget-friendly, legal, and protected from malicious software.
Who is France’s new manager after Deschamps?
Zinedine Zidane is France’s new head coach, appointed in July 2026 on a deal running to the 2030 World Cup. He succeeds Didier Deschamps, whose 14-year reign ended with a fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup.
Why is William Saliba not playing for France?
Saliba is out of Zidane’s first squad with an ankle injury. Ibrahima Konaté and Aurélien Tchouaméni are also missing against Türkiye, leaving Dayot Upamecano and Maxence Lacroix as the likely centre-back pairing.
Is Leny Yoro in the France squad?
Yes, Manchester United’s Leny Yoro was called up as a late replacement for the injured Ibrahima Konaté. The 20-year-old defender had been on Under-21 duty, and this is his first senior call-up.
What formation does Zidane use for France?
Zidane is expected to shift France toward a 4-3-3, the system he favoured at Real Madrid. Deschamps’ side mostly played a 4-2-3-1 at the 2026 World Cup, with Olise operating behind Mbappé.
Who will France face in League A, Group 1?
France will face Türkiye, Belgium and Italy in League A, Group 1. Zidane’s first window covers four matches, opening against Türkiye at Kocaeli Stadium before two games with Belgium and one with Italy.
football
cricket