Zidane shakes up the French national team by betting on young unknowns

For his first gathering as head of the France team, Zinedine Zidane opened the squad to many newcomers, including Andy Diouf, Jérémy Jacquet, Lucas Da Cunha, Lenny Yoro, Esteban Lepaul and Guillaume Restes, who thus earned their first call‑up during the first four matches of the Zidane era.

Unexpected choices at left‑back

With a left‑back position lacking solutions, where Lucas Digne and Théo Hernández alternated during the last World Cup, the new French manager chose to innovate by selecting Adrien Truffert and Andy Diouf. This decision marks a break with the usual rotation between Digne and Hernández.

The disappointment of a pre‑call‑up

Matthieu Udol, who had received a pre‑call‑up, thought he would see the French door open at thirty for the September and October matches against Turkey (0‑1), Belgium (0‑1, 4‑1) and Italy (1‑1). The announcement of his omission came three hours before the match against Monaco on September 18.

Starting and scoring the decisive goal in that match, Udol vented all his frustration in his celebration. “It came three hours before, I had that possibility of being selected, it wasn’t an easy day emotionally,” he told L’Équipe.

“Having that hope and then a disappointment gave me extra motivation, and I channeled all that into my goal,” he continued. “I had a lot of rage inside me, but I was simply disappointed. There’s a next break coming soon, we have a series of very high‑level matches until then, and it’s up to me to perform to keep knocking on the door.”

Far from resigning, the former Metz player intends to turn this bitterness into a source of motivation and draws on his experience to bolster his résumé. “Today, with the Champions League, my status has further evolved. There is also an opportunity, given the competition, to find a place in this team. It has become a goal, but I’m not under pressure because I’m also aware of where I come from,” he emphasized.

He adds that, at thirty, he knows opportunities become rarer: “If it happens, it will be great. Otherwise it won’t be a regret, just a pity because I wouldn’t have been far off. I also know I’m thirty, not twenty‑four, and the more time passes, the harder opportunities will be to seize. There may be a window, and my versatility can help me. I’m a pipe‑player but I can play on the left in a back four, also on the left wing.”