Rabiot sidelined as Da Cunha and Camavinga establish themselves after 4-1 win over Belgium

France thrashed Belgium 4-1 on Monday evening at Stade de France, but it is Zinedine Zidane’s midfield composition that is now fuelling discussion. Adrien Rabiot, an unshakeable pillar under Didier Deschamps, has emerged weakened from this four-match sequence.

The Blues suffered for long stretches. Trailing against the run of play after a Dodi Lukebakio goal shortly after the half-hour mark, they had to wait until the final quarter of an hour to equalize through Désiré Doué. Rayan Cherki then doubled the lead before a brace from Michael Olise sealed the victory in the closing moments.

This late surge did not erase the shortcomings observed in the first half. “While Belgium leads 1-0 and up until the equalizer, it’s really not good. We’re struggling, going round in circles because there are players who can’t make the difference,” Daniel Riolo said after the match.

On the attacking front, the pundit sees the hierarchy becoming clear: Olise as a mainstay, Mbappé as centre-forward, Doué on the left flank. Ousmane Dembélé, meanwhile, appears to have lost his starting place. “We need to turn the page on Rabiot, establish Da Cunha in front of defence and Camavinga in this team,” he added, leaving the third midfield spot open between Cherki — if he can master a new role for him — and a more defensive profile.

Emmanuel Petit shares this assessment. The former international judged Da Cunha and Camavinga “huge” in their partnership against Belgium, and praised another “big performance” from Camavinga on Monday. The contrast with Rabiot, who was at the origin of Italy’s equalizer on Friday in the previous match, is striking according to him.

These first four outings under Zidane appear to have accelerated a generational renewal in midfield, even if the manager has not yet publicly decided.