Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Zinedine Zidane said an influx of young players can help France “evolve” under his watch, after N’Golo Kane was among the big-name omissions from his first Bleus squad.
Zidane will take charge of his country for the first time in the upcoming international break, after Didier Deschamps spent 14 successful years at the helm.
France will visit Turkiye in Zidane’s first game at the helm on September 25, with further Nations League fixtures against Belgium (who they face home and away) and Italy to follow.
Zidane revealed his 23-man squad for those games on Friday, with 35-year-old Kante, who has 69 senior caps and helped his nation win the 2018 World Cup, among those left out.
Kante was part of Deschamps’ 2026 World Cup squad, but he did not play a single minute at the tournament as France lost to eventual winners Spain in the semi-finals.
Fellow midfielder Aurelian Tchouameni is also missing, though Zidane said that choice was made in order to aid his recovery, after the Real Madrid man missed time with a muscle injury last month.
Asked about Kante’s absence, Zidane told reporters: “I didn’t call him. It’s my choice. There are players that can make this team evolve. It has nothing to do with his qualities.
“He was an exemplary player. But he’s 35 years old; I have four years at the head of this team. I made choices.”
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
Zidane was also asked if there was ever any prospect of Karim Benzema, who he managed at Madrid in a spell that saw Los Blancos win three straight Champions League crowns, getting a recall.
“I spent some extraordinary years with him in Madrid. But it’s like N’Golo, I need to see younger players,” Zidane said of Benzema, who left Al-Hilal in August and is still a free agent.
“But that doesn’t take anything away from his career with the French team and with his club.”
Zidane also confirmed striker Kylian Mbappe will remain France’s captain, while five uncapped players were named in his party.
Goalkeepers Robin Risser and Guillaume Restes, defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Andy Diouf and Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha could all make their senior international debuts in the coming weeks.
Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Robin Risser (Lens); Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Ibrahima Konate (Real Madrid), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Andy Diouf (Inter), Jeremy Jacquet (Liverpool), Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth), Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus); Manu Kone (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Lucas Da Cunha (Como), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City); Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Bradley Barcola (Liverpool), Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Esteban Lepaul (Rennes).
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