Zidane replaces Cherki, starts Da Cunha, Bleus excluded after Belgium
In Monday evening's stadium, France's Les Bleus saw two of its midfielders disappear from the squad after the 0‑1 defeat to Belgium in the Nations League. Zinedine Zidane, the new manager, has already imposed major changes, including moving Rayan Cherki to a wide midfielder role and the unprecedented call‑up of Lucas Da Cunha.
A tactical shift signed by Zidane
It is one of the major changes made by the new manager of the Bleus, Zinedine Zidane, compared to his predecessor Didier Deschamps. Beyond opting for a midfield of three players, “Zizou” wanted to add a technical touch, to make the game more fluid and attacking.
This intention was translated into the repositioning of Rayan Cherki, initially slated as a striker, into a wide midfielder, as well as the invitation of Lucas Da Cunha, who made his very first appearance in the tricolour shirt during the match against Belgium.
The two excluded according to Daniel Riolo's analysis
For editorialist Daniel Riolo, the profiles of Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouameni no longer match the style sought by Zidane. “Tchouameni? It’s time to turn the page,” he said, adding that the Madrid‑based midfielder can no longer compete in this high‑pressing system.
Olise scores at 88', Da Cunha hits post: Zidane leads Montella's Bleus
Riolo also criticised Rabiot, deeming him unsuitable for a game “in motion, with heavy pressing and intensity of play.” He highlighted that, in the new setup, players like Camavinga or Koné, paired with Da Cunha, will provide better solutions than Rabiot.
Riolo’s comment, broadcast on RMC, indicates that the midfield hierarchy established under the Deschamps era is being thoroughly questioned. He suggests that the two excluded players could even be left out of the squad for the next call‑up.
Zidane keeps the same salary as Deschamps but gives up image bonuses
It remains to be seen how the new head of the national team, Zinedine Zidane, will respond to the criticism and whether he will confirm these exclusions in the upcoming gatherings.