Zinedine Zidane reshapes France: back to 4-3-3, Mbappé on the left and five possible debutants

The Zinedine Zidane era begins for the French national team this Friday with a Nations League group A1 match against Turkey in Kocaeli. The new manager arrives determined to fix the imbalances that hurt Les Bleus in the World Cup 2026 semifinal against Spain. Early signs from Clairefontaine point to a different tactical setup, a new role for Kylian Mbappé and a clear commitment to attacking talent, without abandoning balance.

• Zidane is moving France back to a 4-3-3, replacing the 4-2-3-1 used by Didier Deschamps since March 2025.
• Mbappé is expected to leave the central striker role and return to his preferred left wing under the new manager.
• Rayan Cherki and Lucas Da Cunha are gaining prominence in training thanks to their creativity between the lines.
• Five players without senior international caps have been called up for a window of four matches in ten days.

France abandons the 4-2-3-1 as Zidane restores balance with a 4-3-3

The first major change is on the tactics board. From March 2025, Deschamps settled on a 4-2-3-1 that allowed Michael Olise, Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola to share the starting eleven. The approach left France dangerously exposed in high-stakes matches, and the 2-0 defeat to Spain at the World Cup confirmed those concerns. Asked about keeping four forwards, Zidane sounded cautious: 'We are not going to exaggerate, are we?'.

Training sessions in Clairefontaine back that up. On Tuesday the manager worked with a 4-3-3, the system that became his trademark during his time at Real Madrid. France are looking for a more compact structure, one that allows the team to control matches without leaving too much space in midfield.

An attacking approach without four forwards, but with creativity

Moving away from four starting attackers does not mean Zidane is abandoning his attacking instincts. The new manager wants a dominant France, a side that imposes its game and creates chances. 'I was a number 10. What motivates me is scoring goals,' he said on July 28, the day his appointment was announced. That idea is already visible in the way he works with the most naturally gifted players in the squad.

We are not going to exaggerate, are we?

Zidane has been full of praise for Rayan Cherki, describing him as 'a real number 10, capable of playing between the lines'. The Manchester City player has a genuine chance of starting on Friday. Lucas Da Cunha, a former winger converted into a midfielder by Cesc Fàbregas at Como, has also impressed in the early sessions.

Mbappé leaves the number nine role and returns to the left wing

Another significant shift concerns Kylian Mbappé. Since Euro 2024, the Real Madrid forward has owned the central striker spot, a wish that Deschamps granted without much debate. Zidane sees things differently: 'He is capable of playing in all three positions. He has said it himself. For example, I really like seeing him on the left,' he stated last Friday.

A return to the left would bring Mbappé full circle in a France shirt. The country's all-time leading scorer with 66 goals in 106 appearances first broke through on the right wing during the 2018 World Cup triumph, then switched to the left until Euro 2024. Under Zidane, France would be getting back a version of Mbappé closer to the one who shone in his best international years.

Five uncapped players for four matches in ten days

Zidane's first squad includes five players yet to make their senior debuts: Lucas Da Cunha, Andy Diouf, Esteban Lepaul and goalkeepers Jean Butez and Guillaume Restes. The call-ups are not a token gesture. France face a demanding window of four matches in ten days, with games against Turkey, Italy and Belgium between Friday and October 5 in Saint-Denis.

With only 23 players selected, rotation options are limited and the newcomers are likely to get real opportunities. Esteban Lepaul, Ligue 1's top scorer last season with Rennes, could offer a solution against deep defensive blocks. Andy Diouf, an Inter midfielder being used as a right-back, looks set to give Jules Koundé some rest. And Da Cunha's technical quality fits a manager who values play between the lines above almost everything else.

What is at stake for France in this Nations League window

France are competing in Nations League group A1 alongside Turkey, Italy and Belgium, all fighting to avoid relegation and stay alive for the knockout rounds. For Zidane, this window means more than a formality. The compressed calendar forces him to share minutes and accelerate the adaptation of a group coming out of a long cycle under Deschamps. The opener in Kocaeli will set the tone for the new project and offer the first real clues about the France he wants to build for the biggest tournaments.