Jules Koundé, a defender from FC Barcelona, has faced unexpected competition from Pierre Kalulu for a starting spot in the French national team. This shift has sparked conversations, particularly in Spain, where the situation is being closely watched. Although nothing is certain yet, Koundé has not started in recent matches for the national team under coach Zinédine Zidane. During the Nations League, Kalulu was chosen to play against Belgium and Italy, while Koundé was left out of those matches. In Spain, the press has drawn attention to this development, linking it to Koundé's recent struggles at club level. The AS newspaper, for instance, noted that Koundé has not started for Barcelona in the last three matches under coach Hansi Flick. During these games, Koundé was left on the bench, with Eric Garcia preferred in his place. He did not play a single minute in those matches, raising concerns about his position in the team. At the national level, Koundé has only played in the first match of the Nations League against Turkey. He missed the subsequent matches against Belgium and Italy, despite being a regular under the previous coach, Didier Deschamps. Now, he faces the challenge of regaining his place in both the national team and at Barcelona. The French team still has one final match in the Nations League on Monday against Belgium. It remains to be seen whether Zidane will continue with Kalulu in the right-back position or give Koundé another chance. Zidane recently said that he does not have any first-choice players, emphasizing that all 23 squad members are viable options. This statement leaves the future of Koundé's position uncertain, particularly in his role as a right-back.