"Zizou" will lead "Les Bleus" as Deschamps' successor... When?

Press reports have revealed the official date for Zinedine Zidane to take charge of the French national team, succeeding current manager Didier Deschamps.

Deschamps will play his final match at the helm of the French national team at midnight on Sunday, when he faces England to determine third and fourth place in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

French newspaper L'Equipe reported that the documents exchanged between Zidane and the French Football Federation regarding the new contract stipulate that his appointment will begin on September 1 of this year.

This comes despite the fact that the official announcement of Zidane's appointment may occur during the current month of July, specifically on Thursday or Friday of this week, a few days after the World Cup final.

Zizou's first task with Les Bleus will be to lead them in four consecutive UEFA Nations League matches: against Turkey and Belgium on September 25 and 28, then Italy on October 2, and again against Belgium on the 5th of the same month.

Zidane will face a difficult challenge as he succeeds Deschamps, who led France to the 2018 World Cup title, was runner-up in the 2022 World Cup, and won the 2021 UEFA Nations League.