Zidane bets on outsiders, Ajorque eager to believe them

Zinédine Zidane no longer hesitates to give his trust to youngsters who were not necessarily on Didier Deschamps' radar, such as Estéban Lepaul, Andy Diouf, Lucas Da Cunha and Guillaume Restes, for the next France squad call-up.

Ludovic Ajorque in the spotlight

The manager has already included the Rennes player Estéban Lepaul, which shows he is not afraid to go off the beaten path. This approach hints at other possible new faces for upcoming camps.

In attack, the spots remain highly contested with Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé and the young Désiré Doué, all eager to keep their places.

If the Rennes player Lepaul got his chance, the Brest forward Ludovic Ajorque, a 32‑year‑old former Strasbourg player, wonders why he couldn't benefit from it. His profile, combining height and technique, impressed again over the weekend in Ligue 1.

During the Brest showcase against Angers (5‑1), Ajorque shone: he headed in a goal from a Hugo Magnetti cross in the ninth minute, then provided a “Madjer” assist to Pathé Mboup in the fifty‑fourth minute, after an elegant collective move.

“I will campaign for Ludo Ajorque to be in the France team,” said Julien Lachuer, the Breton coach, on Ligue 1+. He added: “I heard the manager wants a player present in the box. If I see him on TV, I’ll campaign for Ludo.”

The successor of Éric Roy continued: “In any case, he deserves it. You need ambition, not just being satisfied with playing for Brest or in Ligue 1. Every time, Ludo gives everything, and the manager has top players among the forwards. We are happy to have him.”