As Zinedine Zidane prepares to step into his new role as manager of Les Bleus, he inherits a squad possessing both world-class talent and distinct structural deficiencies. Despite a disappointing end to their recent tournament run, Spanish head coach Luis de la Fuente conceded during a post-match press conference that France still boasts "the best squad in the world." Zidane will certainly benefit from the tactical refreshing implemented by his predecessor, which integrated a promising wave of young talent into the national setup over recent seasons.
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Subscribe Sekarang →The squad features a formidable foundation built around key figures in their prime, including Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, and Kylian Mbappe. Furthermore, veteran players nearing international retirement held minimal roles during recent international fixtures, ensuring a smoother transition for the incoming technical staff. However, based on editorial monitoring, the task ahead for Zidane remains complex, requiring strategic problem-solving to address emerging positional weaknesses.
According to technical evaluations, squad depth remains a key concern in the goalkeeping department and along the defensive flanks. Current starting goalkeeper Mike Maignan has experienced mixed performances, while potential long-term successors such as Robin Risser, Lucas Chevalier, and Ewen Jaouen are still developing. The full-back positions pose an even greater challenge, as recent tournaments highlighted consistency issues on both the right and left sides of the defense.
In central defense, Zidane will need to construct a revised pairing for his opening fixtures due to a back injury sustained by William Saliba. Dayot Upamecano is expected to serve as an anchor, potentially paired alongside Ibrahima Konate or emerging prospects such as Leny Yoro, Castello Lukeba, and Maxence Lacroix. From editorial team observations, Zidane is expected to consult closely with youth international coach Bernard Diomede to identify and integrate France's next generation of talent ahead of the autumn fixtures.