Zinédine Zidane has been eyeing the position in the French national team for years now. The failure in the Euros might not necessarily weaken Didier Deschamps’ position.
It’s an open secret: Zinédine Zidane has only managed Real Madrid because the position he desires hasn’t been available elsewhere. No club has managed to convince Zizou to embark on a new adventure, as he prefers to only go where he knows the terrain, and no project has intrigued him thus far.
Above all, Zidane aspires to take charge of the French national team, and he is already the designated successor to Didier Deschamps, supported not only by the French public but also by many leaders. The question now arises whether Zizou will finally take over after every major international tournament…
Deschamps holding on
In principle, the disappointing Euro performance of the French team (despite reaching the semifinals) shouldn’t jeopardize Didier Deschamps’ future. He knows this and isn’t afraid to dismiss journalists’ questions: “You already know what my president thinks, you probably shouldn’t have even asked me the question,” he responded at a press conference regarding his future.
Factually, Didier Deschamps is correct since he is under contract until 2026 and has today been supported by the president of the French Football Federation. Changing the coach is not currently in favor despite strong demands from supporters of the French team. After 12 years at the helm of Les Bleus, many would like to see renewal embodied by Zidane.
This debate was certainly on the agenda yesterday on RMC’s After Foot and it annoyed Daniel Riolo. “He’s been here for 12 years and absolutely doesn’t want to entertain the question… Enough. Don’t cling on, go play Paddle in Monaco and move on. Make way…” the outspoken commentator of the show initially remarked. “He wants Zidane’s head. He’s so against Zidane taking his place in the French team because he knows everyone wants that. He’s so against this idea. It hurts him that Zidane, who hasn’t even coached a minute of the French team in his life, is awaited as a savior while he has won a World Cup, made a final, and now a semifinal at the Euros,” he continued.
“Psychologically, he has been affected since the beginning of his career by not being the hero of the story. He’s the ugly one in the story, he’s taking it badly and it’s like in movies, the ugly ones want to skin you alive quietly. He doesn’t like being in Zidane’s shadow,” he concluded.
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