Zidane urges caution after two Blues wins in Turkey and Belgium

In the cold of Brussels, the French won their second match under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane, despite nine changes in the lineup and three first selections among the starters. This double success – first in Turkey, then in Belgium – fuels both enthusiasm and debate about the magnitude of the praise.

Reservations expressed on the Late Football Club set

On the Late Football Club set, broadcast on Canal+, journalist Philippe Carayon judged the reactions “a bit too dithyrambic”. He mentioned a form of “zidolatria” in France, reminding that recent successes should not be exaggerated.

Carayon compared Zidane’s performance to that of Didier Deschamps, who had led a reshuffled team to victory against Colombia on March 29, “with as much flair”. This analogy aims to highlight that the success of an experimental eleven is not new for the French.

The context and the stakes

The journalist also questioned the significance of the Nations League match, asking “what weight it carries compared to a World Cup semi‑final”. He believes that these early outings do not yet allow judging Zidane’s France’s ability to face the most demanding fixtures.

Hervé Mathoux shared this reservation, recalling that “a bit too much” noise is being made around the new manager. He nevertheless praised the “crazy risk” taken with an experimental lineup against Belgium, where nine starters were changed and three newcomers introduced from the start.

The substitutes had a decisive impact, notably Michael Olise who scored the goal after a pass from Rayan Cherki. Bixente Lizarazu, former international, highlighted the French’s mastery and the effect of the substitutions.

Mathoux concluded by urging to enjoy this “state of grace” while putting the praise into perspective, recalling that Zidane’s tenure has only just begun.