WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 05: Marcel Desailly, FIFA legend poses on the red carpet prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Emilee Chinn – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Marcel Desailly expects Zinedine Zidane to reshape the French national team if he succeeds Didier Deschamps after the World Cup.
Speculation surrounding Zidanes future has intensified in recent months, with the former Real Madrid manager widely regarded as the leading candidate to take charge of Les Bleus when Deschamps eventually departs.
Desailly believes Zidanes arrival would signal more than a simple continuation of the current era.
Instead, the former France captain expects his former teammate to implement a distinct footballing identity and make significant changes to the squad.
The Accra-born 1998 World Cup winner suggested that several players currently regarded as key figures could lose their places if Zidane decides to build a different tactical structure.
I think Zidane has done very, very well with Real Madrid. But he had no real opportunity to express his philosophy. I think he took what (Rafa) Benitez before him put in place with the players that he has recruited into the system. Luckily, he brought his own understanding of the game, and it worked amazingly.
For the national team, I believe that he will try really hard and erase the philosophy that Didier has put in place to settle his own philosophy into the system. I am sure that four or five people who are first choice for Didier will move from the team to leave space for a different philosophy in the system. Its not been officially announced that its going to be him, but it looks like theres a big chance.
Especially the fact that Zidane never wanted to join any club. Chelsea gave him blank checks to come and coach for them. Manchester United said the same thing when they were facing problems. Turkish teams also. So it means that theres a real lifestyle understanding from Zidane, you know.
So he needs his space. And the national team will give him the power to be back in the system. And at the same time, allow him to continue to have a decent quality of life.
Deschamps will oversee France at the 2026 World Cup where their group stage matches are scheduled from Tuesday, June 16, to Friday, June 26, 2026, across three different host cities in the United States.
Placed in Group I, the two-time world champions will kick off their campaign against Senegal on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) located in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
For their second match, Les Bleus will travel south to play against Iraq on Monday, June 22, 2026, at Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The French national team will then conclude their opening round fixtures with a highly anticipated clash against Norway on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
