Zidane Targets Full-Back Overhaul Across France’s National Teams

Zinedine Zidane has made the shortage of high-level full-backs a priority after taking charge of France in July, pushing for changes that extend from the senior side to the national youth system. The former Real Madrid coach believes stronger options on both defensive flanks are required if France are to control leading international opponents.

Key takeaways

• Zidane has raised his concerns with the French Football Federation’s National Technical Directorate through technical director Hubert Fournier.
• The France coach wants a lasting development programme rather than a short-term response to the issue.
• Under-21 coach Gérald Baticle and Under-20 manager Bernard Diomede have been asked to work on new full-back profiles.
• Monaco’s Christian Mawissa and Lens player Ismaelo Ganiou have been tested in wider defensive roles during the latest international window.
• Both players are normally used as centre-backs for their clubs and could eventually come into senior contention if their progress continues.

A national-system response

Zidane has concluded that France’s present pool lacks the elite-level depth needed at full-back. Rather than waiting for players to emerge naturally, he has pressed the federation to introduce concrete long-range measures throughout the international set-up.

His discussions with Fournier were intended to establish a more reliable supply line of players capable of stepping into the senior squad. Zidane sees the positions as central to France’s ability to compete with the strongest nations, with wide defenders expected to offer both defensive security and the capacity to influence matches higher up the pitch.

The request is not confined to identifying established specialists. Zidane wants the youth teams to help create them, with adaptable and athletic defenders being moved into the roles early enough to develop the demands of playing on the outside.

Mawissa and Ganiou begin the trial

Baticle and Diomede have received specific instructions to trial suitable prospects at full-back during youth international camps. The approach is already being assessed during the current break, as France look to turn central defenders with the necessary physical and technical attributes into more specialised wide players.

Mawissa, who plays for AS Monaco, and RC Lens defender Ganiou are the first prominent examples of that plan. Both are primarily centre-backs at club level, but were used on the flanks with France’s younger sides in the recent window.

Their displays in those unfamiliar positions were viewed positively. Continued improvement for Monaco and Lens, alongside further convincing work in the youth internationals, could put Mawissa and Ganiou on Zidane’s radar for a future call-up to the France senior group.