Zidane bans media from France squad's Clairefontaine arrival ahead of first squad announcement

Zinédine Zidane is already marking his difference from Didier Deschamps: according to RMC Sport, the new France manager has banned journalists and photographers from attending players’ arrival at the Clairefontaine national training centre for the first squad gathering he will oversee.

Under the Deschamps era, this moment had become a media event in its own right. International players would parade in front of the cameras, their outfits scrutinised and commented on, notably Jules Koundé, whose bold fashion choices regularly fuelled social media. Zidane appears keen to turn the page on this public exposure to refocus the group on sporting matters.

The measure is part of a desire to take back control of communications around the France team. It remains to be seen whether this decision will be temporary — while any potential new call-ups settle into the group — or whether it will become the norm under Zidane’s tenure.

Because new faces could indeed make an appearance on Friday. Still according to RMC Sport, several players never previously called up to the France team are said to have received pre-notification: Estéban Lepaul, Jérémy Jacquet, Ismaëlo Ganiou, Andy Diouf, Matthieu Udol, Olivier Boscagli, Pablo Pagis, Lucas Da Cunha and Enzo Le Fée are among the names being considered. The official squad list is to be unveiled at 6 p.m.