Stunning victories mask the logistical failures of Zidane's Bleus
While France savours three wins and a draw under the guidance of Zinédine Zidane, these successes are marred by minor logistical hiccups that disrupted the first gathering of the Bleus during the international break, revealing a contrast between on‑field performance and behind‑the‑scenes organisation.
Stellar sporting performance
The France team started under the direction of Zinédine Zidane with three wins and a draw in four matches, remaining unbeaten and qualifying for the quarter‑finals of the Nations League. The stunning victory against Belgium at the Stade de France, 4‑1, closed this first gathering on a high note. The first match, pitting France against Turkey in Izmit, ended with a 0‑1 win.
The hype around “Zizou mania” has intensified, with the tricolour supporters celebrating each triumph. On the sporting side, the Bleus display a momentum that bodes well for strong performances in the upcoming clashes.
Logistics in limbo
Behind the scenes, the staff experienced slip‑ups. Before the match against Turkey, the protocol was faster than expected and Zinédine Zidane did not hear the start of La Marseillaise, having not received the precise instructions. “The protocol was faster than expected. I was a little late to the start,” the 1998 world champion smiled, adding “I would have preferred to be there from the beginning.”
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Another incident involved the forgotten flag, which had to be retrieved urgently from the dressing room so that the captain could perform the traditional exchange before kickoff. Some players complained that their boots were not properly tightened, causing discomfort before the start.
During the trip to Belgium, a sock issue was noted, causing a slight delay to kickoff, as reported by TF1. The matter was discussed during an internal debrief on Tuesday, with staff members acknowledging that the machine is not yet well‑oiled.
The staff now has just over a month to fix these shortcomings before the upcoming matches against Italy and Turkey in the Nations League, hoping that the logistical adjustments will accompany the Bleus’ good form.