Zidane opens France door to Ligue 2 with Kumbedi call‑up

Zinédine Zidane may turn to Ligue 2 clubs AS Saint‑Étienne and FC Nantes for the France national team, after naming Wolfsburg right‑back Saël Kumbedi as a replacement for the injured Pierre Kalulu. The manager’s willingness to look beyond the top leagues continues to surprise observers.

With France’s next fixtures against Italy on Thursday 12 November and Turkey on Sunday 15 November, Zidane had to adjust his squad. Pierre Kalulu was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Zidane therefore opened the door to a second‑division player.

Kumbedi earns first senior call‑up

Saël Kumbedi was selected to replace Kalulu. The choice was described as notable. Kumbedi currently plays for Wolfsburg in Germany’s second division.

Ligue 2 clubs eye the opportunity

It is Kumbedi’s first senior call‑up, having previously only featured for the under‑21 side. The last second‑division player called up for France did so in 2007. The decision could influence the prospects of many players. Zidane does not intend to limit selection to those in Europe’s top leagues.

Kumbedi beats Zidane to earn a place in the French national team

A player’s level, potential and ability to meet international demands may outweigh the prestige of his league. Kumbedi was not originally selected for the gathering. AS Saint‑Étienne and FC Nantes could benefit from this openness. The move may inspire other Ligue 2 players.

Several players at the two clubs could attract attention by delivering a convincing season. Zidane’s message is that playing in the second division is not necessarily a barrier to a France call‑up. Individual performances and consistency remain essential to reach that level. No specific AS Saint‑Étienne or FC Nantes player has been announced yet.

Zidane and France face criticism after Kalulu's withdrawal

Supporters of AS Saint‑Étienne have jokingly mentioned Julien Le Cardinal, Maxime Bernauer and Kevin Pedro, but they are not imminent selections. The choice of Kumbedi shows the door to Les Bleus remains open even for players outside the elite spotlight. Le Cardinal and Bernauer also have chances of being selected.