In UEFA Nations League A matchday 4, the French national team came from behind to defeat Belgium 4-1 at home. Following the match, France head coach Zinedine Zidane attended a press conference to answer questions from the media. Below is the first part of the press conference.

Read more: [Zidane: I'm somewhat sorry to have to send players back to their clubs, but this is the path I chose]

How do you explain the team's shift in performance after the first hour? Is Michael Olise the world's best player?

Indeed, there were some changes. The second half played out quite differently from the first, though the first half wasn't without its strengths. I think we actually started well, but perhaps lacked a bit of penetration in the final twenty to thirty meters of the attacking area. This has been a recurring issue for us in previous matches. We made adjustments in the second half. The moment we equalized, the entire match completely changed. I was relieved because everyone responded positively. This fifteen-day training camp ended extremely successfully. If we hadn't won, it would have been a shame given our collective effort. So, looking back at our overall effort during this period, this victory—particularly our display in the second half—was fully deserved by everyone. As for that player's performance (Olise), I have nothing but praise; his display was simply outstanding.

Good evening, Zinedine. Many of your former teammates from the 1998 World Cup were on the bench tonight, and Aimé Jacquet, your championship-winning coach, rarely attends matches in person. If you had to choose one quality from Jacquet that most inspires your coaching today, what would it be?

It's his warmth and care; Aimé deeply loved his players. That's what he always conveyed to us: unlimited trust, complete freedom, but at the core was warmth and care. I just saw him, and he looked radiant. I told him how pleased I was to see him personally supporting the French team, as I know he rarely gets out. It was wonderful to meet him and my former teammates from '98.

Good evening, Zinedine. You made nine changes to the starting lineup, just three days after the previous match. What drove you to make such significant adjustments? Will this rotation strategy continue throughout the upcoming international window, or will it gradually decrease once the core squad is established?

This was the plan, at least for this camp. We had to play four high-intensity matches over fifteen days, and most players had just started their new seasons. At the same time, I wanted to observe all the players. The actual situation completely matched my expectations. It's not easy to field four completely different lineups while remaining competitive over fifteen days, but we managed it. The team played quite consistently throughout the matches. Of course, there are always areas we can improve, but achieving this level of cohesion in two weeks was very impressive. This is very encouraging and gives me great confidence for the future.

Good evening, Zinedine. How do you feel, both mentally and physically, after coaching through these four matches? As you mentioned, the rhythm of international football is different from club football, with intense matches followed by breaks. How do you view this experience?

To be honest, I'm very happy. Looking purely at results, ten points from four matches is an excellent outcome. But beyond the wins and points, what satisfies me most is the high-quality work that my entire coaching staff, all the players, and I completed together. I think everyone cooperated well. Maintaining high training standards over these fifteen days was crucial, and we achieved that. Although there are still areas for improvement, this requires a gradual process. Earning ten points gives us peace of mind and joy.

Good evening, Zinedine. After fifteen days leading the team, has the squad reached the interim objectives you expected? Are there any aspects that fell short? Additionally, with the outstanding performances from Doué and Olise, and Mbappé as captain, Ousmane Dembélé has had some ups and downs during this camp. How do you assess his performance tonight?

I think Ousmane played very well tonight. Particularly at the start of the match and the beginning of the second half, his wing play showed excellent attacking dynamism; there were no issues on his part. What about your first question?

Has the squad reached the state you envisioned?

Yes, I've always dreamed of managing the national team, and now that dream has become reality.

From a tactical perspective, has the French national team reached the maturity you imagined?

Yes. These fifteen days have given us a solid tactical foundation. As you said, clearly we can do better, and we'll continue to improve in the upcoming matches.

Good evening, Zinedine. In your subsequent debrief with the coaching staff, which specific areas do you believe will be priorities for improvement? What breakthroughs do you hope to achieve in the next round against Bordeaux and in the away match against Italy?

We'll evaluate all areas that need improvement. If I had to pinpoint one key area right now, it's that we need to dominate the penalty area better. Whether it's crosses from the wing or cut-back passes into the box, we need more receiving options inside the area to significantly improve our finishing efficiency in front of goal.

Good evening, Zinedine. I'd like to talk about Leny Yoro, who delivered an outstanding performance tonight. If not for the unexpected aircraft incident with the youth team plane, would you have called him up? Moreover, with Upamecano and Saliba in defense, and Dayot Upamecano performing exceptionally well during this camp, is the depth at center-back a pleasant "headache" for you as head coach?

Read more: [Hawkins: Yoro should have gone to Iceland with the U21s but was called up to the senior squad after becoming stranded in France]

There's no denying that the talent pool at center-back is very strong. Konate had also suffered a minor injury previously. But even without the aircraft incident, we would still have called up Yoro. After Konate's injury, calling up Yoro was the plan all along. Yoro delivered an outstanding performance tonight, and I'm delighted for him. Given that Dayot suffered a minor muscle strain, we couldn't risk any further injuries. Yoro showed excellent composure under pressure and executed his defensive duties perfectly. I'm genuinely pleased to see such talented young players emerging for the French national team.

Good evening, Zinedine. For you personally, what was the most memorable moment from your first camp leading the French national team? And if there was a moment when you felt dissatisfied, when was it?

The best moment, to be honest, was probably my first day officially meeting all the players. First impressions are always crucial for building trust, and that initial meeting left a deep impression on me. As for difficult moments, frankly, there weren't any. Although there may have been phases of matches where we weren't entirely satisfied with our execution, that's just part of football. We have to accept that no team can be perfect every minute of every match.

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