Zidane's Bleus regroup at Clairefontaine with two newcomers and a cold-weather crowd

Fog, beanies and autograph hunters: the second camp of the Zinédine Zidane era kicked off at Clairefontaine, France's national training centre, on Monday 9 November. Two fresh faces joined the group.

Players were due from 3 p.m. The camp is a short one, seven days in all, with two matches: Italy on Thursday and Türkiye on Sunday.

What happened?

Pablo Pagis, the Paris FC player and a surprise pick for the squad, was the first to arrive. Saël Kumbedi, a right-back in Germany's second division, was called up during the day to replace the injured Pierre Kalulu.

"I was waiting for my taxi to join the Espoirs (the under-21s) when I got a phone call," Kumbedi said. "I've been through every age group here. Since I was little I've walked past the château, and now I'm inside. A dream come true."

Zidane first gathered the players to go over the game plan. Warren Zaïre-Emery said the coach reminded them what worked at the last camp, so they can keep winning.

Why is everyone talking about it?

Because the stars came out. Before training, players signed autographs for children in the cold. Ibrahima Konaté said it matters to see "the stars in their eyes".

Kylian Mbappé won the applause contest by a mile, and was cheered on every shot in a finishing drill. Only 13 players trained, those who had not played for their clubs on Sunday. The rest stayed inside for treatment.

Zidane, beanie pulled down, stayed in the background, as in September. He has already opened the door to Mbappé playing through the middle of the attack.

The news that judoka Teddy Riner is running for president barely reached the camp. Konaté said athletes are citizens with a voice, but that "when you speak, you have to master the subject".

What's next?

Zidane will fine-tune things in a closed session on Tuesday. The team trains at San Siro in Milan on Wednesday evening and plays Italy on Thursday.

They then fly to Bordeaux for two closed sessions at the Stade Atlantique, before facing Türkiye on Sunday. It is the stadium where Zidane once played for Bordeaux.

Earlier on this story

In February 2025, Didier Deschamps said on TF1 that he would leave the Bleus after the 2026 World Cup, opening the way for Zidane.