France coach Zidane picks 5 new faces in first squad and calls time on Benzema, Kante
Associated Press
Last updated: September 20, 2026
Zinedine Zidane, newly appointed as the coach of the French national football team, has announced his first squad. This selection marks the beginning of his tenure and signals a shift in the team's composition.
- Zidane has included five new players in his inaugural squad, indicating a focus on developing new talent for the future.
- The squad announcement also signifies the end of international careers for prominent players Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante.
- This decision reflects Zidane's strategic vision for the team and his intent to integrate fresh faces into the national setup.
- The inclusion of these new players suggests a potential change in playing style and team dynamics under Zidane's leadership.
- Benzema and Kante, who have been significant figures for France, will no longer be part of the national team selection moving forward.
- Zidane's approach appears to be geared towards long-term development and the cultivation of a new generation of French footballers.
- This squad selection is the first concrete step in Zidane's mission to rebuild and reshape the French national team.
