Zidane Names First France Squad as Head Coach, Retains Mbappé as Captain

Zinedine Zidane, newly appointed head coach of the French men's national football team, announced his first squad selection on Friday ahead of upcoming Nations League matches, according to France 24.

The line-up includes five new players, though their identities were not specified in the initial announcement. Zidane's selection notably excludes two players who were part of previous squads: midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni and forward Marcus Thuram, France 24 reported.

Star forward Kylian Mbappé has been retained as team captain under the new coaching regime, continuing in the leadership role he has held with the national side.

Zidane's appointment as head coach marks his formal entry into managing the senior national team, a position that places him in charge of one of the sport's most prominent international sides. The announcement of his first squad is regarded as an early indicator of the tactical and personnel direction he intends to pursue in charge of the team.

France 24 carried live coverage of the squad announcement, with further details on the composition of the squad and the reasoning behind the selections expected to emerge in the coming days as the team prepares for its Nations League fixtures.