Bixente Lizarazu shouts “But stop!” as Zizoumania annoys Jérôme Rothen

During the « Téléfoot l’After » broadcast this Sunday, Bixente Lizarazu retorted to the detractors of Zinedine Zidane’s first spell at the helm of the France team, recalling the three victories and the draw achieved and calling for an end to the « killjoys ».

“Zizou” did not miss his start on the France bench. Beyond the positive results – three wins and a draw – the style of play introduced by Zinedine Zidane sparked popular enthusiasm. Many supporters immediately embraced this new dynamic.

Jérôme Rothen’s criticisms

This “Zizoumania” nevertheless irritated some, such as Jérôme Rothen. The midfielder harshly criticised the TF1 commentary duo, Bixente Lizarazu and Grégoire Margotton, accusing them of a lack of journalistic objectivity. The former Parisian expressed his displeasure in an interview.

Bixente Lizarazu’s defence

During the « Téléfoot l’After » broadcast this Sunday, Bixente Lizarazu answered the “killjoys”. “There has been a lot of joy, and there is a lack of joy at the moment, isn’t there?” said the 1998 World Champion. He added: “But stop! You also have to know how to appreciate that. I loved Zinedine Zidane’s start at the helm of the France team.”

Lizarazu then highlighted two players who, in his view, stood out. “On the positive side, there are two players who have completely stood out,” he said. He first mentioned Michael Olise, the new‑generation young winger.

Olise, according to Lizarazu, possesses a variety of moves, elegant dribbles and an ability to alternate between individual and collective action. “He does things that others really don’t know how to do,” he asserted, highlighting the difficulty he poses for defenders.

The second player highlighted is Désiré Doué. Lizarazu described his potential as “colossal”, noting his physical and mental strength as well as his excellence in dribbling.

“We haven’t yet seen the highest level of Désiré Doué,” he clarified, adding that the youngster can still go further. This confidence reflects the optimism surrounding Zinedine Zidane’s coaching debut.

Although Lizarazu does not know whether this euphoria will last, he concluded that the present moment was very pleasant and he hopes the joy persists. “I don’t know if it will last, but in any case I take what we have had, and it was very pleasant,” he concluded.