Zinedine Zidane Will Have a Serious Problem When He Takes Over as France's Coach

Zidane will inherit a France with a rigid system and will have great difficulty changing it

The legacy of Deschamps

Didier Deschamps officially announced that he will leave the position of national team coach after the 2026 World Cup. His cycle, marked by tactical discipline and defensive solidity, ended up transforming into an unprecedented offensive gamble for France. The former rigorous midfielder abandoned the idea of crowding the midfield and opted for a 4-2-3-1 that favors forwards. Thus, names like Matuidi, Pogba, and Kanté became a thing of the past, while even Camavinga lost prominence.

A demolishing France

The change gave way to a generation of attackers who today form an unstoppable front with Doué, Barcola, Olise, Dembélé, and Mbappé. France combines striking power and play, with thirteen goals already in the World Cup and a clear bet on four forwards. The immediacy of the test will be against Spain in Dallas, a duel that will put the effectiveness of the offensive model that Deschamps consolidated in his latest stage to the test.

Zidane's Dilemma

Zinedine Zidane appears as the unofficial successor, although not yet officially confirmed. His challenge will be to decide whether to copy the offensive formula that brought Deschamps success or to take a risk with a new model that bears his personal stamp. The bar is set extremely high, maintaining the current structure involves managing egos and talents in an overcrowded attack; innovating, on the other hand, could disrupt a balance that currently seems perfect. Zidane inherits a team at its best version, but with the obligation to prove that he can sustain, or even surpass, the legacy of his predecessor.