Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to become the next manager of the French national team, but he could be walking into a deeply fractured environment, with Kylian Mbappe at the heart of tensions.
According to French outlet L'Équipe, the Real Madrid icon will officially take over on September 1, replacing Didier Deschamps, who announced he would step down at the end of this summer's World Cup. The French Football Federation (FFF) has yet to confirm the appointment. However, president Philippe Diallo has said an announcement will be made before the end of the month and Le Parisien reports that Zidane has already begun assembling his coaching staff.
Mbappe at the Centre of French Tensions
Mbappe was allegedly at the centre of escalating friction between the French national squad and the FFF in the lead-up to the World Cup. In the wake of their third-place play-off defeat by England, Deschamps alluded to drama while explaining his choice to resign. “I dictated my exit because it was my choice to make,” he said. “I resolved that it needed to finish here. And if I took this step, I mean it genuinely, it was not for my own sake. It was for the benefit of the French national squad. I haven't mentioned this until today, but I will speak truthfully, I did not make this choice for myself. Because the environment had become completely intolerable, overly fixated on me, just on me. The French team does not merit that.”
Media outlets in France have highlighted a widening divide between the players and the FFF, notably following Diallo's takeover as president. According to RMC, Deschamps perceived a lack of backing from the governing body after the leadership shift, with Zidane now poised to take the helm.
Heated Exchanges and Bonus Negotiations
Furthermore, it is claimed that there were ‘a few heated exchanges’ between the manager and the FFF’s deputy director, Erwan Le Prevost. Sticking points reportedly included travel arrangements, family match tickets, and player compensation. Mbappe was supposedly a key figure in negotiations regarding World Cup bonuses. L'Équipe notes that the players were informed right before flying out that financial rewards would be paid only if they reached the semi-finals, though the Real Madrid forward ultimately secured his preferred outcome. Highlighting his significant sway, the France captain reportedly also had a hand in persuading the federation to set up a cryotherapy chamber at their base camp.
Mbappe Questions World Cup Tactics
The French impressed with their performances in the early rounds at the World Cup but were soundly beaten by eventual champions Spain, 2-0, in the semi-finals. After, Mbappe appeared to question Didier Deschamps' tactical approach. "We were three against two in midfield and against Spain, that's hard. Fabian [Ruiz] and Rodri had plenty of time to play," Mbappe said. "There was a lack of communication on the press. I think we should have done man-to-man press and force them to run with us. We didn't play the game we wanted, technically, tactically. When you don't do what you have to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don't win. Spain respected their game plan and what the team usually does. They like to control the ball and the tempo. Our plan was to press them high so they could not install their rhythm. We didn't manage to do it. We were too sloppy technically. We could not hurt them when we could have. Even when we recovered the ball, our first touches were not good enough. It is a huge disappointment. But if we are objective, we didn't put all the ingredients to go to the final."
Should Zidane take charge as expected, his first games will come in the Nations League when France take on Turkey, Belgium and Italy in September and early October.
