New France Boss Zidane Confirms Mbappe as Captain After Naming First Squad
Zidane called up five newcomers and left out several established players as France begins its UEFA Nations League campaign.
- On Friday, Zinedine Zidane announced his first France squad for upcoming UEFA Nations League matches, officially confirming Kylian Mbappé as captain following the team's World Cup exit.
- Zidane, who played alongside former manager Didier Deschamps in the 1998 World Cup-winning side, took the helm in July following Deschamps' 14-year tenure that ended with a 4-6 loss to England.
- The manager called up five new players including Jérémy Jacquet and Guillaume Restes, while veterans N'Golo Kanté and Lucas Hernández missed the cut; "A lot of work has gone into this," Zidane added.
- France's international window begins September 25 against Turkey, followed by home matches against Italy on October 2 at the Stade de France and Belgium on October 5.
- The UEFA Nations League will dominate Zidane's focus in the coming months before European Championship qualifying begins next year, with the 2028 tournament co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
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New French selector takes tougher measure, ending with fashion in recent years in Clairefontaine. Mbappé confirmed as captain
Zidane names first France squad as coach; Mbappe, Dembele lead attack for Nations League matches
Zinedine Zidane, a 1998 World Cup winner with France as a player, took over as coach of the national team from his former teammate Didier Deschamps after FIFA World Cup 2026.
New France boss Zidane confirms Mbappe as captain after naming first squad
Real Madrid superstar Mbappe shone in his role as skipper at the World Cup and finished as the tournament's top scorer with 10 goals, although France were beaten by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals. Mbappe played as the centre-forward at the World Cup but was equally lethal at the 2022 tournament in Qatar playing off the left wing having mainly been used on the right when France won the World Cup in 2018. "He is capable of playing in …
Zidane announced his first France squad, retaining Mbappe as captain and calling up five new players.
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