France have kicked off the Zinédine Zidane era in promising fashion, securing three victories in their first four games, highlighted by a dominant 4-1 win against Belgium. The outcome left the squad with a good vibe as the players viewed their initial two weeks together as a success.
The first camp also introduced significant shifts for a group used to Didier Deschamps, with seven new faces joining Zidane’s setup. The new manager swiftly made his approach clear, while the players adjusted to a different method of operating both on and off the field.
Zidane outlines clear expectations for France
Zidane instantly left his mark on the side with a 4-3-3 setup, a more aggressive press and man-to-man marking. The players were told to adapt fast, and Leny Yoro confessed they would have liked to win all four games, though he saw the overall experience as very positive.
Andy Diouf echoed that view, calling the camp a highly encouraging beginning. With so much new, the players had to quickly take in Zidane’s directions, while Diouf also needed to pick up a new position at left-back.
That transition inevitably led to some challenges, but Diouf believed there had already been obvious improvement. The newcomers were likewise struck by Michael Olise, with one of them calling the attacker an exceptional talent.
France players get used to Zidane’s approach
The shifts extended past Zidane’s tactical instructions. Players left over from the previous setup observed variations in the daily routine, meals, and pre-activation exercises, along with increased individual work and more thorough tactical sessions.
Even with the extent of the changes, the squad seemed to fit into the new surroundings fast. The mood was momentarily disturbed by an early clash between Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, but the atmosphere quickly recovered.
The general sentiment within the camp ultimately matched the enjoyable environment the players had known at their World Cup base in Boston. The swift adaptation was one of the key positives to come out of Zidane’s first camp.
Zidane’s France already appears unified
Rayan Cherki pointed out how the players and staff have been coexisting, feeling that the strong bond in the group shows in their play on the field.
The favorable evaluation was also mirrored in remarks from goalkeeper Guillaumes Restes, who anticipated the next international get-together. With the following meeting just a month away, he implied the time would fly by.
France will come back for their upcoming fixtures against Italy on 12 November and Türkiye on 15 November, offering Zidane and his team another chance to continue building on a promising first camp.