In UEFA Nations League A, Matchday 4, France secured a dramatic 4-1 comeback victory over Belgium at home. Following the match, France head coach Zidane attended a press conference to answer media questions. Below is an excerpt from the press conference.

Related reading: [Zidane: It's a bit sad when players return to their clubs, but this is the path I've chosen]

How do you explain our performance turnaround after the first hour? And is Michael Olise the best player in the world?

Well, there were definitely some changes. The second half went very differently from the first, although the first half wasn't entirely poor. I think we actually started well, but perhaps lacked penetration in the final twenty or thirty meters offensively. It's an issue we've shown in previous matches. We made adjustments in the second half. Once we equalized, the entire game completely flipped. I'm very pleased because everyone responded positively. This fifteen-day training camp ended on a very positive note. If we hadn't won, given the collective effort from everyone, it would have been disappointing. So looking back at the overall effort during this period, this victory, especially our second-half performance, was fully deserved by everyone. As for that player's (Olise's) performance, I have nothing but praise—it was outstanding.

Good evening, Zinedine. Many of your former teammates from the 1998 World Cup were in the stands tonight, and Aimé Jacquet, the championship coach, was also here watching the match. If you had to choose one characteristic of Jacquet's that inspires you most in your current coaching, what would it be?

It's warmth and care; Aimé truly loves his players. That's what he always conveyed to us: unwavering trust, complete freedom, but at its core, there's always warmth and care. I just saw him, and he looked radiant. I told him how happy I was to see him personally supporting the French team, because I know he rarely goes out. It was wonderful seeing him and my old 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 extensive changes? Will this rotation strategy continue throughout the next national team cycle, or will it taper off once the core squad is established?

It's part of the plan, at least for this training camp. We had to play four high-intensity matches in fifteen days, and most players had just started their new season. At the same time, I also wanted to observe all the players. The situation actually worked perfectly with my expectations. It's not easy to field four completely different yet competitive lineups in fifteen days, but we managed it. The team showed great stability throughout the matches. Of course, there's always room for improvement, but it's not easy to achieve that kind of cohesion in two weeks. This is very encouraging and gives me great confidence for the journey ahead.

Good evening, Zinedine. After coaching these four matches, how do you feel psychologically and physically? As you mentioned, the rhythm of international football is different from club football, with intense matches followed by rest periods. How do you view this experience?

Honestly, I'm pleased. Looking at the results alone, ten points from four matches is an excellent outcome. But beyond wins and points, what satisfies me most is the high-quality work that my coaching staff and I, along with all the players, have done collectively. I think everyone worked seamlessly. Maintaining such high training standards over these fifteen days was crucial, and we achieved it. While there are still areas needing improvement, this requires a gradual process. Getting 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 aspects that fall short of your expectations? Also, with Doué and Olise performing impressively and Mbappé as captain, Ousmane Dembélé has been inconsistent during this training camp. How would you evaluate his performance tonight?

I think Ousmane played very well tonight. Especially in the opening stages and the early second half, his wing play showed great offensive dynamism, with no issues whatsoever on his flank. Regarding your first question?

Has the team reached the condition you expected?

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

From a tactical perspective, has the French team reached the level of maturity you envisioned?

Yes. These fifteen days have laid a strong tactical foundation for us. As you said, we can clearly do better, and we'll continue improving in the matches ahead.

Good evening, Zinedine. In your upcoming review and evaluation with your coaching staff, what specific areas do you believe will be the primary focus for improvement? What breakthroughs do you hope to achieve next month against Bordeaux and away to 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 be more clinical in the penalty area. Whether it's crosses from wide areas or cutting inside with passes into the box, we need more receiving options inside the penalty area to significantly improve our finishing efficiency in front of goal.

Good evening, Zinedine. I'd like to talk about Lenny Yoro, who was brilliant tonight. If not for the unexpected mechanical damage to the U21 team plane earlier, would you have called him up anyway? Also, with Upamecano and Saliba in defense, and Jaccquet performing excellently during this training camp, is central back depth becoming a pleasant problem for the head coach?

Related reading: [Hawkins: Yoro should have gone to Iceland with the U21 team, called up to the national team after being stranded in France]

Undoubtedly, the potential at center back is very strong. Konaté also suffered a minor injury earlier. But even without the plane incident, we would have called up Yoro. After Konaté was withdrawn due to injury, calling up Yoro was a planned decision. Yoro played an outstanding match tonight, and I'm delighted for him. Given that Jacquet experienced a slight muscle strain, we couldn't risk further injury. Yoro stepped in under pressure and perfectly fulfilled his tactical responsibilities. I'm very pleased to see such exceptional young talent emerging for France.

Good evening, Zinedine. Personally, what has been the most touching moment for you during your first training camp as France coach? If there was a disappointing moment, when was it?

The best moment, honestly, 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 disappointing moments, truthfully, there weren't any. While there may have been certain phases in matches where we weren't entirely satisfied with our execution, that's part of football. We must acknowledge that no team can be in perfect condition every minute.

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