Nations Eight: Zidane unveils his best eleven for France

With a list of twenty‑three men, including twenty outfield players, Zinedine Zidane has chosen to rely on a small group for his debut at the helm of the French national team. The squad, presented for the Nations Eight, already includes a clear starting eleven.

A compact squad for four matches

Four matches will be played in eleven days, with two trips to Turkey and Belgium. This tight schedule inevitably requires rotation, but Zidane's selection hints at a stable structure.

Goalkeepers already set

Mike Maignan will be the undisputed starter between the posts. His two backups, newcomers to the Bleus, will remain on the bench. After Robin Risser's withdrawal, Jean Butez was called up, which suggests that Guillaume Restes occupies the second spot.

A defense with multiple options

Dayot Upamecano is indispensable in the centre. In William Saliba's absence, the starting spot will be contested between Ibrahima Konaté, Maxence Lacroix and Jérémy Jacquet, the latter benefiting from an impressive start to the season with Liverpool. Adrien Truffert should be the left‑back, while Andy Diouf could be tried in that position. On the right, Jules Koundé could be challenged by Pierre Kalulu.

Midfield, the heart of the build‑up

Among the six midfielders selected, Adrien Rabiot and Manu Koné will play a major role. Zidane praised Rayan Cherki, who could accompany them in the midfield battle, while Eduardo Camavinga is preferred over Lucas Da Cunha. Maghnes Akliouche, thanks to his versatility, could also earn playing time.

Attack in a 4‑3‑4‑3

‘ZZ’ said he likes Kylian Mbappé a lot on the left, which would place Ousmane Dembélé in the centre and Michael Olise on the right. If Mbappé, who is ill, needs to be rested in Turkey, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola would fight for the starting spot. Estéban Lepaul, with four close‑together matches, will also have his chance.

Our starting eleven for this gathering looks like this: Maignan – Koundé, Jacquet (or Konaté), Upamecano, Truffert – Cherki, Koné, Rabiot – Olise, Dembélé, Mbappé. In this setup, each position reflects Zidane's precise choices for the Nations Eight.