Zidane's bold overhaul ends Deschamps' fourteen-year reign for Les Bleus

França faces a stark contrast: after fourteen years under Didier Deschamps, who delivered the 2018 World Cup (Mundo) triumph and a Eurocopa 2016 runner‑up finish, the French federation has handed the reins to Zinedine Zidane, promising a fresh direction for Les Bleus.

Fourteen years under Deschamps

Deschamps guided the national side for fourteen seasons, securing the World Cup in 2018 and reaching the Eurocopa final in 2016. Under his stewardship the team also recorded three consecutive semi‑final appearances in FIFA’s premier tournaments, underscoring France’s status among the world’s elite.

Zidane chosen to inherit the dynasty

Zinedine Zidane, a legend of French Futebol, captained the 1998 World Cup victory and the Euro 2000 title that ended a sixteen‑year UEFA drought. After two successful spells at Real Madrid (2016‑18 and 2019‑21), where he amassed three Champions League crowns, two Club World Cups, two La Liga titles, two UEFA Super Cups and two Spanish Super Cups, he declined numerous club offers over the past five years ( últimos cinco anos) to pursue the national team role.

First squad for Nations League

For the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Turkey (25 September), Belgium (28 September and 5 October) and Italy (2 October), Zidane named a 23‑man roster. He retained fifteen players from Deschamps’ World Cup list and introduced only five newcomers, preserving the core while injecting fresh talent.

The squad includes three goalkeepers – Mike Maignan (Milan), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse) and Robin Risser* (Lens) – eight defenders, six midfielders and six forwards, with bold names indicating World Cup 2026 retainers and italics marking debutants. Injured Robin Risser* and Warren Zaïre‑Emery* were replaced by Jean Butez (Como) and Maghnes Akliouche (PSG) respectively.

Zidane at the helm of France, Mbappé captain against Turkey

Key omissions signal new direction

Zidane’s first act of renewal saw the exclusion of Lucas (30), Theo Hernández (28) and N'Golo Kanté (35), who formed Deschamps’ experienced nucleus, as well as veteran Karim Benzema (38), who last appeared in 2022. These decisions highlight a shift towards a younger, more dynamic group.

Captaincy and leadership

The coach confirmed Kylian Mbappé will wear the captain’s armband. Should Mbappé be unavailable, Ousmane Dembélé, Adrien Rabiot or Jules Koundé – the most‑capped players in the current pool – could assume the role, with Koundé being the sole defender among them.

Organisational overhaul at Clairefontaine

Beyond the pitch, the French Football Federation (FFF) has restructured the office Zidane will occupy at Clairefontaine, integrating the marketing department to mark a clear break from the Deschamps era. A further novelty introduced by the new coach is a tighter media‑control policy, signalling a more disciplined communication strategy.

The juxtaposition of Deschamps’ long‑standing legacy with Zidane’s immediate reforms illustrates a deliberate pivot: preserving France’s recent successes while charting a distinct path forward for Les Bleus.