Zidane's First France Squad: Star Power Meets Youth

Zinedine Zidane has shown his hand. His first 23-man France squad, unveiled today ahead of the 2026–2027 Nations League, makes one thing clear: the legend on the touchline is not here to simply preserve a legacy. He intends to reshape it.

Taking over from Didier Deschamps in the summer, Zidane has kept a strong spine from the recent World Cup, calling up 15 players from that campaign. The familiar faces are still there, but the mood has shifted. This is not a testimonial tour for the old guard. It’s a relaunch.

At the front of it all stands Kylian Mbappé, still captain, still the reference point. Around him, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise headline an attack designed to scare any defence in League A. They will need to. France have been drawn into a demanding group with Türkiye, Belgium, and Italy, and Zidane clearly wants to make an early statement.

Youth Gatecrashes the Party

The headline is not just who stayed. It’s who has been invited in.

Zidane has reached deep into France’s seemingly endless talent pool and pulled out five uncapped players, a bold injection of youth for the start of a new cycle leading towards Euro 2028.

In defence, Liverpool’s Jeremy Jacquet receives his first senior call-up, stepping into the space left by the absent William Saliba. It’s a big promotion, and a big responsibility. Alongside him, Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes earns a place, as does Inter Milan full-back Andy Diouf, underlining the coach’s willingness to trust emerging players in key areas of the pitch.

The refresh continues in midfield. Como playmaker Lucas Da Cunha has been rewarded with a spot after catching the eye in Italy, offering a different creative profile in the centre of the park.

Up front, the door opens for Esteban Lepaul. The Rennes forward, last season’s top scorer in Ligue 1, forces his way into the squad on merit alone. His inclusion feels like a message: domestic form matters, and reputations alone will not protect anyone.

These five newcomers give the squad a different texture. Less predictable. More hungry.

Big Names Left Behind

New blood means casualties. Zidane has not shied away from them.

N’Golo Kanté, Lucas Hernandez, and Lucas Digne are among the notable omissions from this first list. All three have been important figures in recent years, standard-bearers of the Deschamps era. Their absence is striking.

This is not a gentle transition. It looks like a deliberate break. By stepping away from such established names, Zidane signals that he is already building towards a new tactical structure rather than clinging to what once worked.

At the back, the non-selection of Arsenal centre-back William Saliba adds another layer of change. With him missing, the defensive line will inevitably be reshaped. France have depth, plenty of it, but leaving out such experienced and high-profile players underlines Zidane’s readiness to make hard calls in service of a longer-term vision.

A New Era Starts on the Road

The Zidane era will not begin at home, nor with an easy welcome.

France travel to Kocaeli next Friday to face Türkiye in what promises to be a hostile first test. It’s the kind of away day that quickly reveals a squad’s character and chemistry, especially for those wearing the shirt for the first time.

From there, the schedule tightens. On September 28, France head to Brussels to meet Belgium, a fixture that rarely feels friendly, whatever the competition. Then comes a return to the Stade de France, where Italy await on October 2 in a clash loaded with history and expectation. Just three days later, on October 5, France will host Belgium again in a second showdown that could heavily shape their Nations League campaign.

By the end of that run, we will know much more. Not just about Zidane’s selections, but about whether this blend of entrenched stars and fearless newcomers can carry France into a new era on his terms.