France's Zinédine Zidane boosted by Luis Enrique after victory
Zinédine Zidane validated his debut at the helm of the French national team thanks to Kylian Mbappé's decisive goal, which gave the Blues a 0-1 victory in Turkey last Friday, marking the start of their Nations League campaign. However, the French striker left the field injured and will be absent for the rest of the gathering.
An offensive plan to rethink
The tricolour coach will nevertheless have to revisit his offensive plans for the next three fixtures. Mbappé's absence forces Zidane to rethink the attack's organization. Numerous solutions come from Paris Saint‑Germain, where several players are already accustomed to the demands of collective play.
Among the options, the young Désiré Doué and full‑back Bradley Barcola, before his transfer to Liverpool, provide speed on the flanks. Ousmane Dembélé, already the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, brings recognized creativity. All these players have instincts that Zidane could exploit.
The influence of Luis Enrique
Bixente Lizarazu highlighted in L’Équipe that Luis Enrique's work at PSG is a valuable resource for the Blues. According to him, the French coach can rely on the teachings of the Spanish technician. Zidane was also indirectly addressed on this point. The nickname Zizou was mentioned in the same article.
Zidane praises Dembélé's pressing, a pillar of Mbappé's goal
“It's part of the new manager's job to have a plan B or C and to find solutions when a player is missing,” Lizarazu said. He added that offensive options remain plentiful despite Mbappé's unavailability. This remark highlights the need to diversify attacking patterns.
Zidane recalled that, like him, Luis Enrique developed instincts on the left side during his stint with Christophe Dugarry at Girondins de Bordeaux. “It's an opportunity to exploit part of Luis Enrique's excellent work at PSG,” he affirmed. This reference shows the new manager's admiration for his counterpart's methods.
Lizarazu also noted that the players in question are accustomed to applying pressing and counter‑pressing in a coordinated manner, a result of regular club work. He nevertheless acknowledged that reproducing this style at international level is not easy. This observation underscores the tactical challenge facing the Blues.
Zinédine Zidane criticised for sending Mbappé to the left wing
The next fixture for the Blues is set for this Monday evening, when they will face Belgium at 20:45. This match will mark the first test without Mbappé since the start of the Nations League. Zidane will therefore have to put into practice the adjustments discussed during the gathering.