Zidane relies on a daring midfield trio to face Turkey
For his first match in charge of the French, Friday at 20 h 45 against Turkey‑France, Zinédine Zidane explained how he envisioned the midfield organization, favoring a trio composed of Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot and Rayan Cherki, to combine control, mobility and spectacle, and to guarantee defensive balance while pressing high.
Since the start of the camp, the new manager has taken the time to talk with each of his midfielders to lay out his demands. He emphasized the precision of instructions in the build‑up phase, stressing that the midfield area must become the new face of the French. This focus reflects the importance Zidane places on the construction of play.
A three‑man midfield to control the game
Against Turkey, France should line up with a three‑man midfield. Manu Koné will occupy the sentinel role in front of the defence, while Adrien Rabiot and Rayan Cherki will act as wide midfielders. This setup aims to provide control, mobility and ball possession while maintaining the essential balance according to Zidane.
For Manu Koné, the role differs from the one he usually occupies at AS Roma. Positioned in front of the defence, he becomes the guarantor of the team’s balance, tasked with initiating the press and supporting his teammates’ movements. Zidane expects him to impose a high press and to secure ball recovery.
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Rayan Cherki, the creative wide midfielder
Rayan Cherki especially impresses Zinédine Zidane, who has studied his qualities at length. Deployed as a wide midfielder, he will have offensive freedom to slip between the lines and exploit his technical talent. Without the ball, the instructions will be stricter, demanding an extra effort from him in pressing and covering.
Adrien Rabiot, nicknamed “Le Duc”, brings his experience and versatility to the midfield. The third captain according to Zidane’s hierarchy, he occupies the left wide midfielder role, tasked with supporting Koné in the defensive phase and projecting forward when he has the ball. His ability to occupy multiple zones should ease combinations with Kylian Mbappé.
Tactical implications for the Nations League
Zidane’s objective is to have France defend while moving forward, win the ball high up the pitch and avoid being on the back foot. By deploying three players capable of playing on the ball, he bets on controlling the game and delivering a dynamic spectacle. This system will be tested from the kickoff of the Nations League match.
The setup will therefore be decisive for Zinédine Zidane’s first assessment in charge of the French, and the midfield performance will determine whether France gets off to a solid start in its Nations League campaign.