Zidane Faces Early Setbacks with Injuries Ahead of France's International Fixtures

As Zinedine Zidane prepares to announce his first French national team squad, he confronts a serious challenge with the injury of midfielder Manu Koné. Koné, a key player for AS Roma, suffered a knee injury during the UEFA Champions League opener against Fenerbahçe, forcing him off shortly after halftime. Prior to this, Koné had delivered an impressive performance, completing 42 out of 43 passes and stabilizing midfield. Medical examinations are underway to assess the extent of the injury, and if confirmed, Koné will miss critical Nations League matches against Turkey, Belgium, and Italy between late September and early October. Zidane may turn to Andy Diouf from Inter Milan as a potential replacement.

Simultaneously, the French rugby team also grapples with a historic injury crisis ahead of their high-stakes match against South Africa on November 9, 2026. With 25 players sidelined, including star fly-halves Matthieu Jalibert and Romain Ntamack (the latter out for at least two months due to a shoulder dislocation), coach Fabien Galthié faces tough selection decisions. Maxime Lucu, praised for his tactical maturity and kicking skills, is the frontrunner to fill the fly-half role. Lucu’s selection has gained support from coaches Yannick Bru and Ronan O'Gara, underscoring the depth challenges in French rugby.

Together, these athlete injuries pose significant hurdles for both Zidane’s football squad and Galthié’s rugby team as they aim to maintain competitive form on the international stage.