Legendary figure Zidane the obvious choice for French job, but questions remain

[p]On January 9th, 2016, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zidane-zinedine/b7zuQEqO/"]Zinedine Zidane[/a] took charge of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a], replacing Rafa Benítez. Ten years and a few months later, he is now the manager of [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]the French national team[/a][/b].[/p][p]Five years after ending his second spell with [i]Los Merengues[/i], 'Double Z' takes over from 'Double D'. A 14-year story for both men: one marked by Didier Deschamps’ era, crowned with[b] [/b]a World Cup title in 2018; the other by an interminable wait for the man who had already put himself forward as a candidate after EURO 2012, despite having no coaching experience at the time.[/p][p]Thus, for the third consecutive time, it is a figure from the 1998 World Cup-winning squad who is taking his place on the Les Bleus bench - undoubtedly the best known, the most popular and also the most successful at club level.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-zinedine-zidane-appointed-coach-of-france-following-departure-of-didier-deschamps/rX7fnNhe/"]Read Zidane's first quotes as France boss here![/a][/h2][embed guid="eda44374-bd3c-4b64-af79-c04440413c7a" url="https://x.com/FrenchTeam/status/2082036730375352720" social-type="twitter" /][p]This means he is also the one on whom expectations are highest, both in terms of results and style of play. The four-year contract signed with the FFF is testament to the total confidence placed in him. And that is saying something.[/p][p]Zidane had, in fact, been waiting since February 2025, when initial contact was made with Philippe Diallo. He therefore had no hesitation in declaring that July 28th was the[b] "best day of his coaching career."[/b] [/p][p]True to form, he remained calm and composed, whilst noting that he[b] [/b]"couldn’t find the words" to convey the emotion stirred by his appointment, even going so far as to insist to journalists afterwards that[b] "even if you couldn’t see it, I was genuinely enthusiastic."[/b][/p][p]After describing it [b] [/b]as an "exceptional" moment - given the circumstances and the figure sitting to his left - Diallo spoke of Les Bleus’ "brilliant" World Cup campaign. A tournament that nevertheless ended with a complete non-match [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/france-QkGeVG1n/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=pU0PQ9nR"]against Spain in the semi-final,[/a] before conceding six goals to a second-string [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/england-j9N9ZNFA/france-QkGeVG1n/?mid=b9l0F3Bj"]England side in the third-place play-off[/a].[/p][p]Diallo briefly thanked Deschamps for his work during this[b] [/b]"golden age of French football," although he did not mention any specific date for a proper tribute.[/p][h2]A legend with a few big questions to answer[/h2][p][b]Yes, Zidane is an absolute legend. Yes, he has been successful as a manager. But what is the sporting plan for a manager who hasn’t worked for five years - an eternity in this line of work?[/b][/p][p]He assured everyone that he would "build on what has been achieved." But the time was not yet right for tactical considerations.[/p][p]ZZ dedicated his opening remarks to the firefighters and the farming community currently battling wildfires across the country. He then made a point of thanking the president, the Executive Committee and the FFF staff for their day-to-day work, before speaking of 'the dream come true' in becoming the national team manager.[/p][p][b]"I’ve had offers over the last four or five years to take charge of a club, but I turned them all down for the sake of the French national team. It was the only thing I wanted to do after Real Madrid. I’m going to give it my all to ensure this team keeps winning. I’d like to congratulate DD and his staff; everyone is grateful. A new chapter is beginning, but the aim remains the same: to see the French national team win. I’ll devote all my energy to this team. I can’t wait to get started," [/b]Zidane declared.[/p][p]The squad could still do with a bit of a revamp, particularly in terms of their style of play. "Zizou is Zizou," he quipped, and it goes without saying that he’ll need to inject some life into the team on the pitch, "just like at Real Madrid."[/p][embed guid="aeb70225-736e-4b23-a234-5b66359c6607" url="https://x.com/FrenchTeam/status/2082055218812887060" social-type="twitter" /][p]Yet with Real Madrid, Zidane often opted for solidity and a conservative approach when results weren’t up to scratch, and his position was under threat at times. That was the right formula for winning the Champions League treble, and it will be more than enough in a country that couldn’t care less about the style of play as long as victory is the end result (after all, the utterly disastrous test against Spain two weeks ago was forgotten in a flash).[/p][p][b]Will Zidane follow in Deschamps’ footsteps by fielding four forwards from the start, or will he opt for a complete reset?[/b][/p][p]Having seen [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bouaddi-ayyoub/dpoNasPg/"]Ayyoub Bouaddi[/a] choose to play for Morocco following a meeting in which Zidane was unwilling to guarantee him an imminent call-up, all eyes will be on Zidane’s approach to developing young players - an area where he has not exactly shone at Real Madrid. He cannot afford to wait too long for certain players, notably [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kroupi-eli-junior/fHMXip22/"]Eli Junior Kroupi[/a], who is also eligible to play for Portugal. [/p][p]The next steps will come in September. Zidane has not yet spoken to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Kylian Mbappe[/a] and is waiting a little longer before getting down to business, not least because the team will need to get off to a strong start [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/france-QkGeVG1n/turkey-7s-QeijuHo5/?mid=W6SKXPIE"]in Turkey for the Nations League.[/a][/p][p][b]"We’ve got some extraordinary players - that’s no small thing. I need to settle in, meet the players and explain my plans to them. My priority is Turkey - the match in Turkey. We’ve got matches in September. I’ll have almost three weeks with the players. That’s brilliant for our preparations," [/b]explained Zidane.[/p][p]We’ll then know much more about Zidane’s intentions as manager - the FFF’s only real option and the only legitimate candidate in the hearts of the French people.[/p][image alt="France's upcoming matches in the Nations League" id="345a0244-ab2f-48cd-b182-7af92eeb5348" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="a72d82b0-f77e-4f4d-b4d7-2015001095d7" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /]