An unbeaten Nations League start

Zinedine Zidane completed his first international window as manager of the French national football team without a defeat, taking ten points from a possible twelve across four UEFA Nations League fixtures in eleven days. Appointed on 28 July 2026 to succeed Didier Deschamps after fourteen years, the 1998 Ballon d'Or winner opened his tenure with a 1-0 away victory against Turkey in Izmit. Les Bleus then drew 1-1 against Italy at the Stade de France before securing consecutive victories over Belgium, winning 1-0 in Brussels and 4-1 at the Stade de France on 5 October 2026. The four-match sequence established a three-point lead for France at the top of their Nations League group. Zidane became the first France men's coach to win his debut since Aime Jacquet in 1994, and the first to go undefeated in his opening four fixtures since Raymond Domenech in 2004.

Tactical approach and squad rotation

Throughout the four fixtures, France averaged 62% possession while implementing a system based on pressing, possession, and forward projection. Zidane rotated his squad heavily, using 22 of the 23 players called into the camp, with only third goalkeeper Jean Butez remaining unused. Six players earned their first senior international caps during the window: Guillaume Restes, Jeremy Jacquet, Andy Diouf, Lucas Da Cunha, Esteban Lepaul, and Leny Yoro. France played the final three matches without captain Kylian Mbappe, who scored the winning goal against Turkey before sustaining an injury. The team struggled to convert opportunities during the opening halves across the window, but substitutes scored four goals during the final thirteen minutes of the 4-1 victory over Belgium.

Zidane evaluated the squad's initial window during a press conference on 6 October 2026.

“We were pretty good in our matches even though we can always do better.”

Decisive impact from Olise and Yoro

Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise served as France's primary attacking threat across all four matches. The 24-year-old provided the assist for the winning goal in Turkey, scored in the 1-0 victory in Brussels and the 1-1 draw against Italy, and added two goals and an assist in the second fixture against Belgium. Olise reached 29 caps with 23 direct goal involvements (11 goals and 12 assists), compared to five goals and eight assists in 23 caps for Zidane at the same age. In defense, 20-year-old Manchester United center-back Leny Yoro played the full 90 minutes against Belgium on 5 October after joining the squad as an injury replacement for Ibrahima Konate. Yoro completed 18 passes into the final third from right center-back, exceeding all other outfield players.

Leny Yoro18

Jules Kounde10

Eduardo Camavinga10

Leny Yoro

18 passes

Jules Kounde

10 passes

Eduardo Camavinga

10 passes

Data from the article text

Transition to the new managerial era

Zidane's return to the national setup ended a five-year absence from coaching following his departure from Real Madrid in May 2021. Between 2016 and 2018, Zidane led Real Madrid to three European titles before stepping away from the club. Across the three-week international window, Zidane conducted nine press conferences while implementing individualized video sessions for players at the Clairefontaine training base. Speaking in Brussels ahead of the away fixture against Belgium, Zidane reflected on his transition from playing to leading the national side.

“The football goes so quickly. Look, I am 54 years old and I can no longer play. The French national team is so beautiful that I want the players to experience these moments.”