Zinedine Zidane’s return to management has brought renewed attention to France’s tactical development, with set pieces emerging as an early priority. Appointed in July to succeed Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup, the former Real Madrid coach wants to improve an area he considers important to the national team’s progress.
The approach is practical rather than revolutionary. Dead-ball situations offer opportunities to create chances when opponents restrict space in open play, but Zidane has acknowledged that his staff have had limited time to develop their routines. Responsibility for much of that work rests with his assistant David Bettoni, who takes a particular interest in set pieces.
“We work on it as one team, but my assistant David Bettoni is primarily responsible because he pays particular attention to these phases of play,” Zidane said in comments reported by Foot Mercato. “We haven’t had much time to work on set pieces so far, but it is a hugely important aspect for me, of course.”
France’s recent meeting with Italy offered an indication of the ideas being explored. At corners, several attacking players positioned themselves outside the penalty area, an approach intended to make use of their technical quality rather than relying exclusively on deliveries into a crowded box. The work remains at an early stage, but it suggests Zidane is examining different ways to make those situations productive.
The timing matters because the national team must develop within the limited training periods available during international windows. Zidane’s four-year contract runs towards the 2030 World Cup, giving him a long-term framework, but his immediate task is to establish effective patterns during the 2026–27 Nations League campaign.
That requires adaptation rather than simply reproducing his Real Madrid methods. The players available, their club responsibilities and the time spent together differ from a club environment. Zidane’s own acknowledgment of limited preparation time underlines why it would be premature to describe set-piece mastery as an established feature of his France side.
His emphasis also should not be confused with a plan to replace individual creativity. France’s attacking quality remains central to the team, while better dead-ball routines could provide an additional route to goal. The positioning used against Italy suggests an attempt to incorporate that technical ability into the set-piece structure rather than separate the two.
For now, the focus is on preparation for the Nations League meeting with Belgium on 5 October. Zidane has promised “smart changes” to keep France competitive during their fourth match of the international window, while continuing to develop the team’s playing patterns.
Whether the set-piece work becomes a decisive advantage will depend on execution and results over time. What is already clear is that Zidane considers it a meaningful part of France’s development—not an afterthought, but an area where more detailed preparation could complement the talent already available to him.
