Daijiworld Media Network - Paris
Paris, Sep 19: France coach Zinedine Zidane is set to unveil his first squad on Friday evening as Les Bleus prepare for four matches in the UEFA Nations League, following an extensive player-monitoring exercise by his coaching staff.
According to Foot Mercato, Zidane and his staff spent several weeks closely tracking players before finalising the squad. The coaching team initially drew up a list of 55 players, with five names considered for each position, while also placing greater emphasis on players who have received less media attention.
According to L'Équipe, the staff divided scouting responsibilities among themselves. Former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez was assigned to monitor goalkeepers and, for instance, travelled to Toulouse to watch players. Other positions were assessed by two or sometimes three members of the staff.
Zidane's long-time assistant David Bettoni contributed his coaching experience, while Stéphane Blanc focused primarily on observation and monitoring. The two have worked together for six years at Real Madrid and are considered complementary members of Zidane's staff.
Blanc's scouting work also extended beyond French players, allowing the staff to study France's upcoming Nations League opponents, including Turkey, Belgium and Italy.
The coaching staff established a regular monitoring system, with Zidane and his assistants meeting every two weeks to discuss their observations and identify players requiring closer attention.
L'Équipe reported that Bournemouth defender Adrien Truffert was watched twice from the stands, while Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha also attracted attention following an impressive start to the season.
New video analyst Fred Tabet has also been regularly tracking players. Bettoni has focused particularly on Germany and Italy, Blanc on France and several other competitions, while Tabet has primarily followed England and Spain.
The system is designed to prevent players from being judged on the basis of a single performance or observation. Every three months, the monitoring areas are rotated so that different members of the coaching staff assess players being considered for the national team.
These multiple assessments will contribute to Zidane's final selection. The former France captain has so far made few public scouting trips and was spotted at Bollaert stadium during the French Super Cup match between Lens and Paris Saint-Germain.
According to L'Équipe, Zidane's status as a global football icon can make his movements difficult to organise without attracting attention. His first squad will now provide the first indication of which new faces have earned a place in the plans of the 1998 World Cup-winning coach.