Zidane calls up Da Cunha, Como captain, for first France squad

Lucas Da Cunha, Como captain and 25-year-old attacking midfielder, is set to feature in Zinédine Zidane’s first France squad list, to be revealed on September 18. The information was reported by Le Parisien.

Native of Roanne, Da Cunha also holds Portuguese nationality through his father, but chose to represent France from the U16 category onwards. Having played for Stade Rennais and Nice, he has been at Como for three years, a club he has accompanied in its rise from Serie B to Serie A, and then to the Champions League this season. Under Cesc Fabregas, he has established himself as a central link in Como’s midfield.

Left-footed and capable of playing box-to-box, Da Cunha embodies an atypical profile in the France squad landscape. This is precisely the type of player Zidane appears to be seeking, keen to make his mark quickly after fourteen years of Didier Deschamps’ reign.

Da Cunha is not the only new name in circulation. Zidane’s pre-selection list, which would include around fifty players, also includes Ismaëlo Ganiou (Lens), Jérémy Jacquet (Liverpool), Andy Diouf (Inter Milan), Esteban Lepaul (Rennes), Pablo Pagis (Paris FC) and Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland).

The final squad will be unveiled on September 18. France will then have four Nations League matches to play between September 25 and October 5, against Turkey, Italy and Belgium twice.