Zidane concerned about his fullbacks after first three matches with France

Zinédine Zidane wasted no time identifying his priorities at the helm of the France national team. According to L’Équipe, the new manager raised concerns about the fullback position — on both flanks — following his first gathering, which concluded with two victories against Turkey and Belgium, then a frustrating draw against Italy.

On the offensive front, the picture is far more reassuring. Despite Kylian Mbappé’s absence, Zidane was able to rely on a promising trio: Michael Olise, who was decisive, Désiré Doué, who was brilliant, and Rayan Cherki, who was technically precise. Enough to fuel genuine optimism for what lies ahead.

The situation is more tense in defensive fullback positions. On the left, Théo Hernandez’s absence forced Zidane to call up Andy Diouf and Adrien Truffert, the latter nonetheless standing out during the gathering. On the right, Jules Koundé was overtaken by Pierre Kalulu.

Faced with these shortcomings, the manager reportedly discussed the matter with Hubert Fournier, the technical director, asking him to take concrete measures. Zidane also met with the U23 and U20 selectors, Gérald Baticle and Bernard Diomède, to identify potential options for future gatherings.