Zinedine Zidane has included uncapped quintet Guillaume Restes, Andy Diouf, Jérémy Jacquet, Lucas Da Cunha and Estéban Lepaul in his first France squad.
Zidane, who took over after Didier Deschamps retired following the World Cup, selected 20 outfield players and three goalkeepers for four Nations League games between September 25 and October 5.
Jacquet has been rewarded for a promising start to his Liverpool career while Da Cunha has been a prominent member of the Como side that has gone from Serie B to the Champions League over the past four years.
Zidane said: “It’s a first selection, a first gathering. The ideas were quite clear. You may have one or two players who are not there due to lack of playing time or a small injury, but there has been a lot of work since my appointment on July 28.
“This break is good with 15 days together, four matches to play. We will play every three days, so everyone will be involved. My way of seeing football? You will see it. I am excited by the games. I want to see this team play. We have the players.”
Zidane also confirmed Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe would retain the captaincy but there was no place for veteran midfielder N’Golo Kante, who went to the World Cup but did not play a single minute.
“It’s a choice, but I think there are players to develop this team,” added the former Real Madrid boss. “It has nothing to do with his [Kante’s] qualities. He is an extraordinary player in the French team. I congratulate him for what he did.”
Les 23 Bleus appelés par Zinédine Zidane pour le premier rassemblement de la saison 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/HghfdF2hx3
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) September 18, 2026
France Nations League fixtures 2026
Turkey v France (September 25 in Izmit)
Belgium v France (September 28 in Brussels)
Fance v Italy (October 2 in Paris)
France v Belgium (October 5 in Paris)
France Nations League squad
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Robin Risser (Lens)
Defenders: Andy Diouf (Inter Milan), Jeremy Jacquet (Liverpool), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Ibrahima Konate (Real Madrid), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea), Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Lucas Da Cunha (Cômo), Manu Koné (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG)
Strikers: Bradley Barcola (Liverpool), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Desire Doue (PSG), Esteban Lepaul (Rennes), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
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