Zinedine Zidane has begun his France tenure with a detailed scouting structure built around a 55-player preliminary pool, as he prepares for his first UEFA Nations League matches in charge.

The initial list was organised around five options for each position, but Zidane’s approach extended beyond the usual shortlist. His staff increased their monitoring of lesser-known candidates, holding review meetings every two weeks to compare reports, discuss emerging options and identify players who warranted closer attention.

The workload was divided across the coaching staff to ensure assessments were not based on isolated performances. Fabien Barthez assumed responsibility for goalkeepers and was personally seen scouting in Toulouse, while outfield candidates were generally watched by at least two staff members and, in some cases, three. Monitoring responsibilities also rotated every three months to introduce fresh perspectives into the process.

The method helped put players such as Bournemouth left-back Adrien Truffert and Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha firmly into contention. Truffert was recalled despite having only one previous senior cap, while Da Cunha received his first France call-up after an impressive start with Como.

Zidane has now named a 23-man squad featuring five uncapped players: Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, Liverpool defender Jérémy Jacquet, Inter defender Andy Diouf, Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha and Rennes forward Estéban Lepaul. Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué and Michael Olise lead the attacking group.

The selection signals a blend of continuity and renewal. Zidane retained established figures including Mbappé, Mike Maignan, Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté, Adrien Rabiot and Eduardo Camavinga, while leaving out experienced names such as N’Golo Kanté and Marcus Thuram. He said the new faces were players who “deserve to be here” and that he wanted to see how they perform at international level.