Zidane's first team selection

Zinédine Zidane, the current head coach of the French national team, has made several changes to the squad, including selecting new players for his first gathering in late September. Some had expected him to adopt a more conservative approach similar to his predecessor, Didier Deschamps.

Lucas Da Cunha's debut

During Zidane's first selection, midfielder Lucas Da Cunha made his international debut for France. The position he filled could have also been taken by Ayyoub Bouaddi, another promising young player.

Bouaddi's decision to play for Morocco

Ayyoub Bouaddi, who was transferred from Lille to Manchester City for 100 million euros this summer, chose to represent Morocco instead of France. This decision was made despite being eligible to play for France, the country of his birth.

Deschamps' influence on Bouaddi

Didier Deschamps, the former coach of the French national team, had previously told Bouaddi he would not be selected for the 2026 World Cup squad. This decision likely influenced Bouaddi's choice to switch allegiance to Morocco.

Analysis of the situation

Pierre Ménès, a football analyst, suggested that Bouaddi's decision to play for Morocco was not just emotional but also a strategic move. He noted that it might have been possible to prevent this outcome by selecting Bouaddi earlier in the process. Ménès also remarked that the situation, while a failure for France, was not entirely unexpected given Bouaddi's circumstances.