Zidane bets on squad depth after nine changes
Three days after the 1-0 win in Turkey, the French kept their run by beating Belgium 1-0 in Brussels. Zinedine Zidane made nine changes, including three newcomers, and reminded that every player must be ready to meet the demands.
Massive rotation and debuts
This massive rotation saw Lucas Da Cunha make his debut, receiving praise from the manager. “It’s not easy given it’s his first call‑up, but he played the way I wanted,” Zidane said. Two other youngsters, including Olise, were also in the starting lineup.
Zidane stressed collective involvement, stating on TF1’s microphone: “Everyone feels involved and that’s what I want to see.” He added that the tactical choices were his responsibility, but the players had to be ready.
The French dared to go forward in Belgium, showing little fear of invading the opponent’s half. “We held on, we were brave and we weren’t afraid to go into the opponent’s half,” the manager recalled. He noted a slight dip in the second half, which he attributed to the numerous changes.
Record possession statistics
According to Opta, the French completed 92.8 % of passes in the opponent’s half, a record over the past twenty years. This accuracy allowed France to dominate play and secure six points, ahead of Belgium and Italy, who each have three points.
Zidane exults as France unlocks Belgium thanks to Olise
The decisive action saw Cherki deliver the pass to Olise, who finished. Doué was also described as very good despite the tall Belgian full‑backs.
Next challenge against Italy
The next test comes this Friday at the Stade de France against the Azzurri. Zidane emphasized the importance of maintaining the same intensity, reminding that “we were dominant, it’s logical over the whole match.” The squad remains open, each player having to prove his worth.
Zidane concluded that each lineup is at his discretion, each player having to respond when called upon.
France dominate Belgium thanks to Da Cunha, Lacroix and Doué
The fluidity of play was remarkable, the French combining in tight spaces and keeping the ball under pressure. This mastery allowed them to set the tempo throughout the match.
This contrast between bold rotation and technical mastery confirms that the manager is betting on squad depth while keeping control of the game.