France: Zinedine Zidane surprises everyone by calling up a player for the first time

Zinedine Zidane has barely settled into the France hotseat, yet he is already putting his stamp on the squad. In a move few saw coming, the former Real Madrid boss has handed Sael Kumbedi — currently plying his trade with Wolfsburg in the 2. Bundesliga — his very first call-up to the senior national team.

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The inclusion of right-back Kumbedi is a forced choice by Zinedine Zidane

The right-back has been brought into the France fold as cover for the injured Pierre Kalulu of Juventus, with Les Bleus also missing Barcelona's Jules Kounde. It marks the first occasion since 2007 that a player from the second tier has earned a call-up to the French national team — the last instance coming when David Trezeguet and Jean-Alain Boumsong featured for the disgraced Juventus side relegated in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal.

Handing the 21-year-old a call-up may have raised eyebrows, yet it fits neatly into the approach Zidane established during the September international break. On that occasion, when an injury forced Ibrahima Konate to withdraw, the France boss dipped into his U21 ranks and sprung a surprise by calling up Leny Yoro. Now the 1998 World Cup winner has done much the same with Kumbedi, who has nailed down a regular role at Wolfsburg since arriving from Lyon in the summer of 2025.

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The right-back's journey began in the youth setup at Le Havre — the same academy that produced France internationals Paul Pogba and Ferland Mendy — before a switch to Lyon, where he went on to establish himself in the first team. A loan move to Wolfsburg followed in 2025, and his performances there convinced the German club to make the arrangement permanent for a €6 million fee the following December.

Such was his form last season that many expected Wolfsburg to simply flip the right-back for a quick profit, with Lazio, Roma, Porto and Feyenoord all showing interest in his signature.

Hazem Mlhem |

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Hazem Mlhem est un rédacteur sportif expérimenté, animé par une passion pour le football africain.

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