Zidane plans changes for France as Belgium clash looms large

Zinedine Zidane already knows what it's like to coach France on the road. Now comes his first big test at home, and he's facing it knowing he can't field the same lineup twice. "There will be changes, that's for sure. This is our fourth game and we can't just do anything," he said at a press conference ahead of the clash with Belgium, a match that will decide who's on top of Nations League Group A1.

Zidane's debut on the home bench didn't go as he'd hoped: France drew 1-1 with Italy at the Stade de France on Friday, a result that leaves the standings tight. Belgium, meanwhile, bounced back from the 0-1 defeat they suffered in Brussels against the French by thrashing Turkey 3-0, and those six points put them in second place, breathing down the leader's neck.

To make matters worse, Zidane arrives with some painful absences. Kylian Mbappé is out with a knee issue that has lingered since the opening win in Turkey, and Dayot Upamecano will miss this match through suspension after picking up a red card in the closing minutes against Italy. So the coach will have to dig into his squad depth once again, something that seems to convince him more than worry him.

"We'll make smart changes, and above all we'll do it to stay competitive," he explained, making clear that the rotation isn't a whim but a necessity. But there's something more behind that philosophy: for Zidane, shuffling the lineup is also a way of keeping ambition alive inside the locker room.

It's to show that we're all involved and that every player is committed to this team, to show that there's a lot of competition within the French national team.Zinedine Zidane

A new role, the same passion

Arriving at the national team after 14 years at Real Madrid, where he took over from Didier Deschamps after the World Cup, hasn't been a simple transition for Zidane. He clearly enjoys the change, though he also admits he misses the day to day work of club football.

I've always felt it, and I like it. I like feeling that tension, I enjoy it. But what I love most of all is what I do: being with the players, with this group, that's what I enjoy.Zinedine Zidane

And he added something that sums up his moment well: "The demands are the same, but the difference is that working with the national team is different from working at club level. I enjoyed the daily work, and today I'm taking on a different role, but my desire to work in harmony with my team hasn't changed. It was fantastic spending two weeks with the players, and I feel a certain frustration thinking that this camp is ending. We still have one last push to leave camp happy."

On the other side, Belgium isn't at full strength either: both Kevin De Bruyne and captain Youri Tielemans will miss the match through suspension. Even so, Zidane isn't taking Mark van Bommel's side lightly for a second.

"They played very well in the first match against us and gave us tactical problems," the French coach admitted. "They're capable of a lot. Against Turkey they caused their opponent trouble too, so they're strong both collectively and individually."