Zidane’s First France Squad: Star Power and Fresh Faces

Zinedine Zidane has wasted no time putting his stamp on France. After stepping in for Didier Deschamps over the summer, the new head coach named his first 23-man squad for the upcoming international break, a list that feels both familiar and distinctly forward-looking.

Mbappé Leads, Dembele Shines, Olise Steps Up

The spine of the World Cup side remains. Fifteen players from the recent tournament return, ensuring continuity as France head into the 2026-2027 Nations League. The armband stays with Kylian Mbappé, still the face and driving force of this team.

Around him, there is no shortage of stardust. Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele is in, as is Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, whose presence underlines just how aggressively France intend to attack League A. They will need that firepower: the draw has placed them in a heavyweight group with Türkiye, Belgium, and Italy.

This is not a tentative start. Zidane wants France to make noise immediately.

Five New Faces, One Clear Message

Beneath the headline names, the real story lies in the newcomers. Zidane has turned to five uncapped players, a bold injection of fresh energy into a squad that could easily have stood still.

At the back, Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet receives his first senior call-up, stepping into the frame in the absence of William Saliba. It is a significant show of faith. Alongside him, Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes gets the nod, while Inter Milan full-back Andy Diouf is rewarded for his rise in Serie A.

The refresh continues in midfield and attack. Como playmaker Lucas Da Cunha earns a place, a creative option who signals Zidane’s intent to evolve the team’s structure rather than simply rotate personnel. Up front, Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul, last season’s top scorer in Ligue 1, forces his way in on sheer form. His inclusion feels less like a gamble and more like an inevitability finally recognised.

These selections are not token gestures. They point directly at the next cycle, with Euro 2028 already looming in the background.

Big Names Out as Zidane Draws a Line

New blood means painful omissions. Zidane has not shied away from them.

N'Golo Kante, Lucas Hernandez, and Lucas Digne are all left out of this first squad. Each has been a key figure in recent years, each a symbol of the Deschamps era. Their absence reads like a clear tactical and generational reset rather than a temporary shuffle.

Saliba’s omission only underlines the shift. With the Arsenal centre-back missing, the defensive line is being reshaped on the fly. France have depth, yes, but leaving out such experienced pillars sends a message: reputation alone will not secure a place under Zidane.

This is not a caretaker approach. It is a coach making early, decisive choices about what his France will look like.

A New Era Begins in Türkiye

The Zidane era will officially kick off next Friday in Kocaeli, where France face Türkiye in what already feels like more than a routine Nations League opener. Every selection, every rotation, every tactical tweak will be scrutinised as the first clues to Zidane’s long-term plan.

From there, the schedule tightens. A trip to Brussels to face Belgium awaits on September 28, a test of nerve and control against one of Europe’s most technically gifted sides. Then comes the return to home soil: the Stade de France will host Italy on October 2, before Belgium visit Paris for a second clash on October 5.

By the end of that run, the picture will be clearer. Will Zidane’s blend of hardened World Cup veterans and fearless newcomers ignite a new cycle of dominance, or expose the risks of change made early and without compromise?