RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 5 sources🇫🇷 Zidane as France manager: 8️⃣ reasons to believe... or not!
Made for the role?
On Tuesday morning, Zinédine Zidane was officially unveiled as the new head coach of the France national team.
It’s a job the Les Bleus legend has been waiting for a long time, and at first glance, it seems to suit him perfectly.
But will Zidane be the man to take Les Bleus back to the summit of European and world football? Here are our 10 reasons to believe... or not!
The embodiment of winning
His track record as a coach speaks for itself, with three straight Champions League titles won at Real Madrid, as well as two La Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Super Cups and two Club World Cups.
Zidane knows how to make his teams win at the highest level and in knockout matches, exactly what France needs.
He has experienced everything with Les Bleus
A two-goal hero in the 1998 World Cup final, at his peak in the Euro 2000 triumph, but also present during the 2002 fiasco and the heartbreak of 2006, Zidane has seen it all with the France national team.
If there is one man who knows how to lead this team to the top and avoid the pitfalls, it is him.
Managing egos
It is one of the Les Bleus legend’s main strengths. At Real Madrid, Zidane managed to tame one of the most ego-packed dressing rooms in football.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric... so many superstars who put themselves at the service of the French Ballon d'Or winner to make that Real Madrid side one of the greatest teams of all time.
Unmatched aura and unfailing composure
Although he will be under a level of pressure he has rarely had to face in France, Zinédine Zidane enjoys immense goodwill and, short of a disaster during his first training camp, should experience a fairly calm start with Les Bleus.
And even at the height of the storm, the former No. 10 stood out for his composure during his coaching career. As he once put it so well: " The more important the match, the more difficult the match, the less pressure I feel ."
An extended first international window
It is one of the new features of the next international break. Next September, the international window will last 16 days, with four Nations League matches against Italy, Turkey and Belgium twice.
The length and number of matches are ideal for allowing the new Les Bleus manager to impose his style and ideas on the squad.
He has not coached for five years
It is one of the questions many observers are asking: has Zidane been away from the game for too long?
The question is a fair one, but we are talking here about a man who won the Champions League in his very first experience as a head coach.
According to various reports in the media, Zidane also continued to develop his skills during his time away from the dugout.
No revolution in Les Bleus' style of play?
One of the main criticisms aimed at Didier Deschamps during his years with Les Bleus was that the team’s overall play was sometimes too limited.
It is hard to believe that will change under Zidane. His Real Madrid side, while ruthless in high-stakes matches, stood out above all for its pragmatism and unmatched ability to punish opponents during their weak spells.
He will have to do better than Deschamps
Although he won only one major tournament, Didier Deschamps established the France national team at heights rarely seen in the 21st century and perhaps never before reached by Les Bleus.
Zinédine Zidane will therefore have to aim very high right away to avoid unfavorable comparisons with his predecessor.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.
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