Zidane’s First France Squad Features Stars and New Talents
Zinedine Zidane has drawn his first real line in the sand.
After stepping in for Didier Deschamps over the summer, the new France boss unveiled his inaugural 23-man squad for the upcoming international break, shaping the group that will launch the 2026-2027 Nations League campaign.
It’s a list that leans on World Cup know-how but isn’t afraid to cut deep into the next generation.
Mbappé leads a star-studded core
Fifteen players from the recent World Cup make the cut, giving Zidane a ready-made backbone. The armband remains with Kylian Mbappé, the undisputed figurehead of this side and the face of the new era.
Around him, the attacking talent is as glittering as ever. Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele is in, bringing his unpredictable genius, while Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise adds another sharp edge out wide. With that trio, France are not easing into League A of the Nations League; they’re going after it.
They’ll need that firepower. France have been drawn in a heavyweight group alongside Türkiye, Belgium, and Italy. No room for a gentle reset there.
Five uncapped players signal a new cycle
Zidane hasn’t just refreshed the squad; he’s cracked it open.
Five uncapped players receive their first senior call-ups, a clear nod to the cycle building toward Euro 2028.
In defence, Liverpool’s Jeremy Jacquet steps in for the absent William Saliba. It’s a big responsibility for a debutant, but his inclusion underlines how highly he’s rated. He’s joined by Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, who gets his chance to stake a claim in a position France have rarely lacked competition, and Inter Milan full-back Andy Diouf, another modern, energetic profile suited to Zidane’s likely demands.
Midfield gets a new conductor in Como playmaker Lucas Da Cunha, rewarded for his rise with a first taste of the national setup. Higher up the pitch, Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul forces his way in after finishing as Ligue 1’s top scorer last season. Goals at club level have translated into a ticket to Clairefontaine.
These are not token picks. They’re statements. Zidane is not waiting for the old guard to fade; he’s accelerating the turnover himself.
Big names left behind
The flip side of fresh blood is painful omissions.
Several long-serving pillars of the France squad are missing from this first list. N'Golo Kante, Lucas Hernandez, and Lucas Digne have all been left out, a brutal reminder that reputations alone no longer guarantee a place.
Their absence points to more than just rotation. Zidane is clearly reshaping his tactical puzzle, trimming away some of the veterans as he looks to build a side that can grow together over the next few years.
At the back, the picture shifts even more with Arsenal centre-back William Saliba not involved. His absence forces a significant reorganisation of the defensive line. France have depth, but leaving out such experienced and trusted figures underlines Zidane’s willingness to make hard calls if they serve his long-term vision.
A fierce start to the Zidane era
There will be no soft launch.
France open the Zidane era next Friday away to Türkiye in Kocaeli, a notoriously intense setting for a debut. From there, the tests only get tougher. On September 28, they head to Brussels to face Belgium, one of Europe’s most technically gifted sides.
Then comes the return to home soil. The Stade de France hosts Italy on October 2 in what already feels like a benchmark fixture for Zidane’s project, before a second clash with Belgium on October 5 rounds off a brutal early run.
By the end of that stretch, the picture will be clearer. Has Zidane found the right blend of established stars and fearless newcomers, or will the growing pains of a bold rebuild be laid bare against Europe’s elite?
