Zidane's elegant style could mask a cautious approach

In the corridors of the Stade de France, journalists are bustling as the arrival of Zinedine Zidane is announced as the new manager of the French national team. His background as an elegant player immediately revived the promise of football as refined as the one he displayed on the pitch.

After years of debate over Didier Deschamps' style, part of the public was awaiting a genuine offensive revolution. Supporters now imagine the French national team deploying a fluid game, inspired by the talent that made the new manager famous when he was a player.

Zidane fed this hope by declaring: “What drives me is the game and going to score goals.” He thus confirmed his desire to see his team play with ambition. This sentence reinforced the expectation of a bolder style.

When asked about the possibility of fielding four forwards, he immediately set a limit: “Four forwards? We’re not going to overdo it, are we?” This joke gave a first hint of his approach. He therefore does not want to stack the front positions at the expense of balance.

A wealth of attackers, but no excess

With Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Amine Doué, Noah Olise or Alessandro Barcola, Zidane has an exceptional wealth. Yet, he does not seem willing to sacrifice balance to deploy all his stars simultaneously. He therefore favors a structure that protects the collective.

A pragmatic Real-style tactic

The envisaged return to a 4‑3‑3, with three genuine midfielders, reflects this desire for balance. Zidane could seek to densify the midfield, better control matches and provide the attackers with a solid framework. At Real Madrid, he never based his success on a spectacular doctrine, but on pragmatism and adaptation.

That is where the possible misunderstanding lies: loving the game does not mean asking his team to take all the risks. One of the first questions will be about how he will balance creativity and discipline. Those who were expecting a complete break with Didier Deschamps might discover more continuity.

The first matches will allow the intentions to be distinguished from the promises. Zidane will be judged on the quality of play and his ability to win immediately. If he chooses balance rather than offensive abundance, that will not necessarily be a renunciation, but a pragmatic version of his aesthetic.