Zidane refuses to use Zaïre-Emery as fullback despite France's shortage

Zinédine Zidane is not budging: Warren Zaïre-Emery is a midfielder. The France manager recalled him in November for the two UEFA Nations League matches against Italy and Turkey with this sole objective in mind, despite a glaring shortage at fullback.

Yet the PSG player has shown this season that he could provide valuable services elsewhere. Luis Enrique has fielded him seven times in midfield, but also three times as left fullback and three times as right fullback — his position in the last league match against Troyes. A versatility that Zidane deliberately chooses not to exploit with the national team.

The manager’s logic is clear: in international football, unlike at club level, the talent pool is wide enough to rely on specialists at each position. The reality of the moment, however, complicates this principle. On the left, Andy Diouf has been recalled as backup to Adrien Truffert. On the right, the two starters from September, Jules Koundé and Pierre Kalulu, have withdrawn. Malo Gusto, number two in the hierarchy under Didier Deschamps, was indeed called up, but after Kalulu’s withdrawal, Zidane chose to call on 21-year-old Saël Kumbedi, who plays for Wolfsbourg in the German second division.

This gamble on youth over more immediate solutions — Jonathan Clauss (34), in form at OGC Nice, was not selected — illustrates the manager’s long-term vision. Zidane is clearly thinking beyond these two November matches. But the question remains: by refusing to test Zaïre-Emery in a wing position in an international context, is the French staff missing an opportunity, at the precise moment when PSG is making him one of their regular fullbacks?