Zinedine Zidane was all smiles after France’s 1-0 victory over Belgium in the Nations League on Monday. The France head coach was particularly pleased with his team’s collective performance, as well as the displays of Michael Olise and Lucas Da Cunha.
Two games and two wins for Zinedine Zidane. After the hard-fought 1-0 victory in Turkey, the new France coach wanted to see his players improve their use of the ball. Against Belgium, despite making major changes to his starting XI, he received a very encouraging response.
Zidane delighted with France’s performance
France showed greater control, but Zidane was especially pleased with his team’s overall attitude. Pressing, courage and a willingness to play in the opposition half were all principles the former Real Madrid coach wants to establish. “Satisfied? Yes, and not just with the ball. Tonight, we were very good everywhere. In our pressing, in everything,” Zidane told TF1. “We held firm, we were brave, we weren’t afraid to go into the opposition half and that’s what I like, that’s what we want.” Despite the numerous changes, he added: “We had a few difficulties too, but that’s normal, especially with several changes in the team. But everyone is involved, I love it.”
Michael Olise eventually broke the deadlock. Without a goal for France since June, the Bayern Munich winger secured victory with a superb solo run, even prompting an unusually exuberant celebration from Zidane on the touchline. “Does he impress me? Yes. He’s pure talent. He loves to play, he’s a real footballer, and I like footballers,” Zidane said of the 24-year-old. “When he plays, he wants to entertain. He understands football, he reads situations. He knows when to go for it and when to slow things down. I’m happy to have a player like him in my team.”
Another major positive was Lucas Da Cunha, who produced an impressive midfield performance on his France debut. Zidane insisted it was no surprise to him: “Da Cunha isn’t a discovery for me. I’m really very happy with his performance. It wasn’t easy because it was his first cap.” The coach had simply asked the 25-year-old to play with freedom: “He played the way he usually does, the way I wanted him to: freely. He plays like he does for his club, and he does it very well.” With Olise shining, Da Cunha enjoying a successful debut and France delivering a convincing collective display despite the rotation, Zidane ends his first international camp with plenty of positives — and two wins from two matches to begin his reign.
