France: Zidane adds Como goalkeeper Butez to the squad

The goalkeeper of Como, Jean Butez, appeared on the preliminary list of call‑ups by Zinedine Zidane, the new head coach of the French national team, who took over on July 28 from Didier Deschamps, ahead of the upcoming fixture; the announcement of the final squad is scheduled for tomorrow at 18:00.

Zidane's choices

Never before in the recent history of the French national team have so many names of potential call‑ups leaked, it emphasizes, as a testament to the anticipation generated by the choices of the former Juventus and Real Madrid star. The simple list has already sparked debates among experts and fans, all eager to discover who will receive Zidane's green light.

Jean Butez, 31, kept a clean sheet in 21 of his 44 appearances across all competitions, conceding only 35 goals. These figures have established him as the first‑choice goalkeeper in Cesc Fàbregas's system at Como.

Konaté returns to Real Madrid with a sprain as France lose starter

Born in Lille, Butez left the youth academy of LOSC Lille without having played any professional match. He then spent two seasons in Belgium, first at Royal Excel Mouscron and then at Royal Antwerp, before moving to Italy in the winter of 2025.

With Como, Butez began the 2026-27 season, during which the club played its first match in the Champions League. The goalkeeper returned to the starting lineup from the first minute, consolidating his position.

France face Belgium without Ibrahima Konaté, a test for Zidane

While the anticipation for the final squad grows, Butez's presence on the provisional list shows that Zidane's choices can also reward players outside the traditional international circuits. Tomorrow at 18:00 it will be known whether the Como goalkeeper will join the France team, closing the gap between media curiosity and the reality on the pitch.