Target 2028: A look at France's future post-World Cup
After a slightly frustrating end to the World Cup this summer, the France national team will now set their sights on Euro 2028 -- here's a look at what to expect in the next two years before Les Bleus cross the pond.
A solution at left back
With Lucas Digne 35 and Theo Hernández 31 by the time the next tournament rolls around, perhaps no position in the national team is more important than this one, especially with Hernández no longer playing a high standard of club football and Digne unlikely to rack up significant appearances. Monaco's Christian Mawissa has impressed and will be given more of a runout this season with Caio Henrique gone, while Quentin Merlin and once-capped Adrien Truffert could also figure in Zidane's reckoning.
Ce retour salvateur de Christian Mawissa 🤯🚧
‣ #ASMRCSA pic.twitter.com/esj5C24DRs— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) April 21, 2025
Maignan the man?
Mike Maignan hasn't done much wrong since taking the goalkeeping reins from Hugo Lloris, but he'll face plenty of challenges from young up-and-comers like RC Lens' Robin Risser, who will add valuable Champions League experience to his resumé this season, and Newcastle's Ewen Jaouen. Toulouse's Guillaume Restes is also in the frame, having already played more than 100 times for Les Violets despite being just 21.
Attacking options
Hugo Ekitke and Randal Kolo Muani missed out this summer owing to struggles with form and injury, and it's difficult to see them drifting from the attacking reckoning entirely, but could other, younger talents state their case in the season to come? Rayan Fofana has been mightily impressive in limited minutes for Lens, and like Risser he'll have the opportunity to prove himself in Europe this season. Elsewhere in Ligue 1 McDonald's, Esteban Lepaul might have considered himself unlucky not to have earned a callup, while Lyon's Rémi Himbert also looks set for a big season.
First start, first goal. ✨
17 years old. Rémi Himbert. 💎🦁 pic.twitter.com/MoPZcmXi4H— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) January 29, 2026
Zizou's approach
Finally, beyond personnel, the most anticipated part of Zidane's succeeding Deschamps will be his philosophy when it comes to the way he sets his team up. Deschamps, for all of his success, was often criticized for his reluctance to play attacking football, up until this summer's World Cup. Zidane had no such qualms during his time at Real Madrid, and there will be plenty of intrigue on this point ahead of his first matches in charge this autumn.
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