France head coach Zinedine Zidane has said he will make some “smart changes” when his side face Belgium looking to stay top of Nations League Group A1.
Zidane saw his first match in charge on home soil end with a 1-1 draw against Italy at the Stade de France on Friday night.
Belgium were beaten 1-0 by France in Brussels, but responded with a 3-0 win over Turkey to sit second in the table with six points.
Kylian Mbappé is out because of a knee problem picked up during France’s opening win in Turkey and defender Dayot Upamecano is suspended after his late red card against Italy, so Zidane will have to utilise the depth of his squad again
“There will be changes, that’s for sure. It is our fourth match, and we can’t just do anything,” Zidane said at a news conference, as reported by L’Equipe. “We will make smart changes, and above all, we will do it to be competitive.”
Zidane feels his team rotations provide both a sense of togetherness as well as keeping everyone’s focus sharp for selection.
“It is to show that we are all involved and that all the players are committed to this team, to demonstrate that there is a lot of competition within the French national team,” he said.
Zidane is relishing his new role, having replaced Didier Deschamps after the World Cup following 14 years in charge.
“I have always felt it, and I like it. I like feeling that tension, I enjoy it,” Zidane said.
“But what I love most of all is what I do — being with the players, with this group, that is what I enjoy.”
Zidane added: “The demands are the same, but the difference is that the work with the national team differs from that at club level.
“I enjoyed the daily work, and today I take on a different role, but my desire to work in harmony with my team has not changed.
“It was fantastic to spend 15 days with the players, and I feel a certain frustration at the thought of this period ending. We still have one last effort to make to leave the camp happy.”
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Belgium will be without both Kevin De Bruyne and captain Youri Tielemans through suspension.
Zidane, though, knows Mark van Bommel’s side will present another stern test.
“They played very well in the first match against us and caused us tactical difficulties,” the France boss said.
“They are capable of many things. Against Turkey, they posed problems for the opposition, so they are strong both collectively and individually.”
