Zidane turns to youth development to solve France’s full-back problem

France manager Zinédine Zidane has raised concerns about the lack of depth at full-back and has asked the French Football Federation to take steps to develop more players in the position.

The issue was previously highlighted by former France boss Didier Deschamps, who called for an assessment of how the country could become more effective at developing full-backs.

Truffert emerges as a major winner

Zidane responded to the shortage by calling up Andy Diouf, who has been used as a makeshift full-back, for his first international break in charge of France.

Adrien Truffert was also recalled after previously earning just one cap for Les Bleus. The AFC Bournemouth left-back impressed during the international break and has emerged as one of its major winners.

Despite Truffert’s progress, the full-back positions remain a concern for Zidane.

According to L’Équipe, Zidane has asked the federation to take measures to address the shortage and has passed instructions to France Under-21 coach Gérald Baticle and Under-20 boss Bernard Diomede to focus on developing players in these positions.

The report says Zidane has been left with “shock” and “concern” by the lack of options at both left-back and right-back.

France youth teams also experimenting

The issue has also been evident within France’s youth teams during the current international break.

AS Monaco’s Christian Mawissa and RC Lens’ Ismaelo Ganiou have both been deployed at full-back and have successfully adapted to the positions for Les Bleuets.

Zidane will therefore be hoping the work at youth level can produce more natural options for the senior national team, as France look to strengthen positions that have become an area of concern.