Can Pavard return to France under Zidane? Ménès has doubts

Benjamin Pavard has not worn the France shirt since 17 November 2024, when France won 3-1 against Italy in the Nations League. The arrival of Zinédine Zidane as head coach of the France national team, appointed to replace Didier Deschamps ahead of the 2026 World Cup, has nonetheless reignited speculation about a possible return for the 2018 World Cup winner.

Zidane’s first official fixture is scheduled for September, with a series of Nations League matches. The squad composition is already the subject of much debate, particularly around players sidelined during the Deschamps era.

On his YouTube channel, consultant Pierre Ménès offered a nuanced analysis of the Pavard case. He first noted the defender’s return to Inter Milan after a loan spell at Marseille that he judged “a complete failure”, highlighting that the player has regained form during the Nerazzurri’s pre-season. But Ménès immediately conditions any hope of selection: “He has to be sure he doesn’t leave, he has to be sure he plays and continues to perform.”

Even in the event of convincing club performances, the question of position remains open. “His chance at what position? Inter is a team that plays with three centre-backs, so is he going to play right centre-back? That doesn’t exist in the France team. You’re either a centre-back or a right-back. And in both cases, as a centre-back, there are better options than Pavard and on the right there are better options than Pavard.” An observation that makes a recall scenario unlikely in the current state of affairs, unless there is a wave of defensive injuries.

With 55 caps and 5 goals to his name, Pavard is not yet at the end of his international career. But it will be Zidane, when he announces his first squad, who will definitively settle the question.