Coach Zidane held first training session with France national team — Asharq Al-Awsat
France national team head coach Zinedine Zidane held the team's first training session on September 21 at the national football center in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines near Paris. The French team is preparing for the start of the new UEFA Nations League campaign, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
Incomplete squad at the first session
About 50 journalists watched the training session. Zidane conducted a light session for 12 of the 23 players called up to the national team. Not all players had arrived at the team's camp, as many of them played for their clubs in European leagues last weekend.
Mickaël Olise, Eduardo Camavinga, Jules Koundé and Dayot Upamecano took part in the session. At the same time, team captain Kylian Mbappé was absent: on Sunday, he played for Real Madrid in the derby against Atlético, which his team lost.
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Staff and upcoming matches
Zidane worked alongside his assistant Davide Bettoni, who was part of the Frenchman's coaching staff at Real Madrid, as well as Fabien Barthez. Zidane's former France teammate, who won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, serves as goalkeeping coach.
The session concluded with a short practice match and shots on goal following crosses delivered by Zidane himself. During the first training camp under his leadership, France will play four Nations League matches: on September 25, the team will play away against Turkey, and on September 28, against Belgium. At the beginning of October, the French will host Italy and Belgium at the Stade de France.
