Zinedine Zidane just dropped his first squad list as the head coach of the France national team, and the biggest headline isn’t who’s in, but who’s out. Aurelien Tchouameni, the Real Madrid midfielder, did not make the cut for Les Bleus’ upcoming UEFA Nations League matches. Zidane, taking the reins from Didier Deschamps after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is already making bold moves with his initial roster.
Zidane’s Bold Call on Tchouameni’s Recovery
So, why leave out a talent like Tchouameni? Zidane didn’t mince words when he spoke to the media after the announcement, making it clear this wasn’t about performance. “He’s a player who was sidelined for two months. For his recovery process, it was better for him to stay in Madrid,” Zidane said, as quoted by RMC Sport. We know Tchouameni returned to Real Madrid from the World Cup with an injury, missing all of pre-season under Jose Mourinho. He’s only just started getting back into rhythm, coming off the bench against Inter Milan, getting more minutes against Rayo Vallecano, and finally starting his first game of the season versus Elche. Zidane clearly thinks that international duty and four games in the UEFA Nations League over the next three weeks would be too much. It’s a tough call for sure, but maybe a smart one to ensure Tchouameni is 100% for the long haul.
Captain Mbappe and His Role
While the Tchouameni news grabbed attention, Zidane also confirmed what many expected: Kylian Mbappe will wear the armband as France captain. “Yes, he is now my new player and will be my captain,” the Real Madrid legend stated. Of course, the media immediately wanted to talk Ballon d’Or, but Zidane shut that down fast. “I’m not going to blow the whistle to end play. I know what it’s like to be a Ballon d’Or winner. Every now and then there are a few little chats. But we won’t necessarily be talking about that behind closed doors.” Sounds like Zidane wants the focus squarely on the pitch, not individual accolades. He even brushed off criticism about Mbappe’s defensive work as “a bogus issue, a bogus debate; we’ll have to deal with him just like any other player. When we don’t have the ball, we’ll have to work hard. That won’t be a problem for Kylian.” And as for Mbappe playing as a No. 9? Zidane doesn’t see it, saying, “I don’t think so, he can play in all three positions, I really like him on the left.”
Zidane’s first assignment is those four UEFA Nations League games over the next three weeks. This is his debut as national team coach, and the pressure is on. With Mbappe leading the charge, and a clear vision for player recovery, it’s going to be fascinating to see how this new-look France performs.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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