A date at last
Thirty-six days. That’s how long everyone has been waiting for this. Zinedine Zidane was appointed France head coach on July 28, and since then, nothing. No squad. No match. Just names floating around and guesses.
The French Football Federation finally ended the wait last night. It will all happen on Friday September 18, at 6pm. Press conference at the FFF headquarters, 87 boulevard de Grenelle, in Paris. The new boss will unveil the players selected for his first four games.
So, two more weeks of waiting. Again.
Try it for $0.99.
Four matches to make an impression
The schedule is not exactly a gentle start. France, third in the FIFA world rankings, go straight into the 2027 Nations League group stage.
It begins in Turkey, in Kocaeli, on September 25 at 8.45pm. Three days later, it’s a trip to Brussels to face Belgium, same kick-off time. Then Italy at the Stade de France on October 2. And then the Red Devils again, back in Saint-Denis, on Monday October 5.
Four matches in 11 days. Belgium twice. Italy at home. For a first camp, that is about as far from a soft landing as it gets.
Clairefontaine from the 21st
The squad will meet on Monday September 21 at the National Football Centre in Clairefontaine, outside Paris. Three days to get everything in place before heading to Turkey. Tight, to say the least.
Another detail tucked into the federation statement, and not the least interesting: Zidane’s final staff will be announced on Tuesday September 15, via the press. So the backroom team will be known three days before the players.
That makes sense. First we learn who he is working with, then who he is picking. The waiting and the guessing can begin.
Discover the rest of the FOOT news on our mathodds website and app!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply