Zidane's First France Squad: Heavyweights and New Blood

Zinedine Zidane has stamped his name on the France job at the first real opportunity. His inaugural 23-man squad for the 2026-2027 Nations League is out, and it carries a clear message: the old era isn’t being torn up, but it is being rewritten.

Named today, the list leans on the spine that went deep at the recent World Cup. Fifteen of those players return, giving Zidane continuity as he begins his own cycle on the touchline. The armband stays with Kylian Mbappé, still the face and force of this team, flanked by Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise in an attack built to frighten any defence in Europe.

France will need that firepower. They’ve landed in a brutal Nations League A group with Türkiye, Belgium, and Italy. Zidane isn’t easing into this job; he’s walking straight into the storm.

New Era, New Faces

The headline isn’t just who stayed. It’s who’s new.

Zidane has reached deep into France’s talent reservoir and pulled out five uncapped players, all of them chosen with a clear eye on the future and Euro 2028.

Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet gets his first senior call-up, stepping in with William Saliba absent. It’s a bold nod to the next generation at the back. Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes joins him, another youngster trusted to grow under the pressure of the national team environment, while Inter Milan full-back Andy Diouf adds energy and versatility on the flank.

In midfield, Como’s Lucas Da Cunha is rewarded for his rise with a place in the squad, a creative option in the middle of the pitch. Up front, Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul forces his way in after finishing as Ligue 1’s top scorer last season. His inclusion underlines Zidane’s willingness to back form, not just reputation.

These five aren’t window dressing. They are a statement: the rebuild has already started.

Big Names Left Behind

Fresh blood comes at a cost.

Zidane has left out several pillars of the previous era. N’Golo Kanté, Lucas Hernandez, and Lucas Digne are all missing from this first list under the new boss. No injury caveats, no farewell tour. Just a clean, sharp decision.

Their absence points to more than just rotation. Zidane appears ready to reshape the tactical blueprint, even if it means moving away from players who defined France’s recent success. With Arsenal centre-back William Saliba also out, the back line in particular is undergoing a significant shake-up.

France have depth to absorb those losses, but leaving out such seasoned figures this early in his tenure shows Zidane isn’t interested in half-measures. He is prepared to make cuts, even when the names are heavy.

A Fierce Start to the Zidane Era

There will be no gentle warm-up for this new-look France.

The Zidane era begins next Friday in Kocaeli, where France face Türkiye in what promises to be a hostile, noisy first test. From there, the squad heads to Brussels to meet Belgium on September 28, a clash that always carries an edge.

Then comes the return home. The Stade de France will host Italy on October 2, a fixture loaded with history, before France meet Belgium again on October 5 in a second showdown that could define their Nations League campaign.

New coach. New faces. Old expectations.

The question now is simple: can Zidane’s blend of established stars and fearless newcomers carry France into a new cycle without losing the aura that made them a powerhouse? The answers start arriving next week.