Nations League: France surpasses Belgium and confirms early expectations of the Zidane era.
The French national team wrapped up their fourth match under Zidane's management with a stunning 4-1 victory over Belgium. This win, while impressive, encapsulated the three previous matches, providing a clear view of Zidane's strategic direction: a possession-based 4-3-3 formation with high pressing, Kylian Mbappé repositioned on the left flank, Michael Olise emerging as a key attacking figure, and the evident integration of several newcomers.
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In this match against Belgium, Zidane's first defeat was looming as the Blues fell behind in the first half after a goal from Lukebakio (35th minute). They had to wait until the last fifteen minutes to turn the tide against the Red Devils. This turnaround happened in just three minutes with substitutes making an impact. Désiré Doué first scored (77th), followed by Rayan Cherki (81st), and then Olise capped off the scoring with two goals (88th, 90+1). It was an exhilarating finish that beautifully concluded Zidane's early tenure and allowed for an initial assessment of this new chapter.
Since taking charge, Zidane has not settled on fixed starting lineups, but he has established his tactical approach. The French team plays in a 4-3-3 formation with a technical defensive midfielder tasked with cleanly restarting play and a more creative and offensive third midfielder occupied by players like Rayan Cherki or Maghnès Akliouche. The objective is clear: control the ball, apply high pressing, and regain possession as quickly as possible, even if it sometimes involves risks in counterattacks, as seen with Lukebakio's opening goal.
Additionally, a significant change involves the captaincy: Kylian Mbappé, who was often used centrally, has been repositioned on the left flank. The Real Madrid forward opened Zidane's era with a goal against Turkey (1-0) before suffering an injury, but this experience will undoubtedly be repeated.
Olise, the key player
In this initial phase, one player has undeniably stood out: Michael Olise. The Bayern Munich winger has been essential for Zidane's beginnings. He provided the assist against Turkey, scored in the first Belgium-France match (1-1), and again against Italy (1-1), culminating in a brilliant performance against Belgium with a double and an assist in the final score of 4-1. Zidane's start also marks an opening towards a new generation. Guillaume Restes, Jérémy Jacquet, Andy Diouf, Lucas Da Cunha, and Estéban Lepaul have been included in the squad, with Leny Yoro replacing Ibrahima Konaté. The latter was named in the starting lineup for his first cap, demonstrating immediate trust. Jacquet and Da Cunha, for their part, showed they could meet the demands with promising performances.
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