Zinédine Zidane criticised for sending Mbappé to the left wing

In the RTL studio, the show "On refait le match" was buzzing with palpable tension on Friday evening, as Sébastien Tarrago denounced Kylian Mbappé's return to the left flank of the France team, a decision taken by the new coach, Zinédine Zidane.

A controversial position change

Zinédine Zidane, appointed manager of the French national team after Didier Deschamps' departure this summer, believed that Mbappé could contribute more from the left wing rather than as a striker. The nickname "Zizou" thus justified this tactical shift, arguing that the Real Madrid player would have gained in versatility.

However, Kylian Mbappé, who had long played on the left side supporting Olivier Giroud, had become the centre‑forward of France. Repositioned in the national team as at club level, the Bondy native then went on stacking goals like the pearls of a beautiful necklace.

Immediate reactions

Sébastien Tarrago called the choice "insane", stating: "When you have a player who is undoubtedly the best striker in the world… and you suddenly put him on the left… it's completely insane." A journalist from L’Équipe added that Mbappé was not happy and that the debate was unnecessary, noting that the player was already established as a centre‑forward at Real Madrid and for France. Not exactly kind to Zinédine Zidane, the comment highlighted the perceived inconsistency.

That same evening, criticism extended to the minor mistakes in the match against Turkey: delay for the anthems, chaotic warm‑ups, and a general feeling of disorganisation. Despite these slip‑ups, Mbappé scored the only goal of the 0‑1 victory, before leaving the pitch injured.

The top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup last season, Mbappé sees his role called into question. The ensuing debate shows how much Zidane's, or Zizou's, decision divides observers of French football.