Zenedine Zidane kicks off his journey as France’s coach with an exciting match against Turkey next Friday in the UEFA Nations League opener.
“Zizou” plans to shape his team around a 4-3-3 formation, marking a fresh departure from Didier Deschamps’ previous strategy.
As reported by French newspaper “L’Équipe,” Zidane clearly communicated his vision during Tuesday evening’s gathering at the Clairefontaine camp. Wednesday’s training session reinforced this approach, with Kylian Mbappé positioned on the left, Ousmane Dembélé taking the lead as the main striker, and Michael Olise occupying the right wing.
Manu Koné is set to anchor the midfield, supported by Adrien Rabiot and Rayan Cherki, who will play key roles in linking up the attack.
Although Mbappé missed Tuesday’s nearly full-team session due to a cold, he is expected to be ready for the match against Turkey.
“L’Équipe” highlights Zidane’s clear attacking strategy, placing Dembélé as the primary striker, with Mbappé on the left, marking a shift from the 4-2-3-1 formation Deschamps employed. This adjustment pushes Michael Olise into a playmaker role.
Zidane also made a notable decision regarding leadership. He retained the captain’s armband for Mbappé when he plays and appointed three vice-captains from the most experienced players in the squad: Dembélé, with 67 caps; Rabiot, with 66; and Jules Koundé, with 56. This mirrors the seniority system Zidane effectively utilized at Real Madrid.
