Brice Samba and Estéban Lepaul are in the frame for Zinedine Zidane's first squad as France head coach. The Stade Rennais FC goalkeeper and forward could be called up when the list is announced on Friday, 18 September, a move closely watched by the club's supporters.
Zidane, who succeeded Didier Deschamps, will name his group for the upcoming fixtures. Aged 32, Brice Samba has four senior caps and was part of the three-goalkeeper squad for the 2026 World Cup alongside Mike Maignan and Robin Risser. His consistent and strong 2025-26 season with Stade Rennais FC earned him that recall. Yet, with the new staff in place, including Fabien Barthez as goalkeeping coach, his spot is under discussion. Actu Foot stated that "Mike Maignan should remain number one. Behind him, Brice Samba could be the victim of the new staff," naming Jean Butez and Guillaume Restes as potential alternatives. The new head coach spent 192 goal minutes analysing goalkeeper performances, including Samba's, for his first squad.
In attack, Estéban Lepaul, 26, has also received a pre-call-up. His early-season displays, which include three goals in four appearances, have caught the eye of the new setup. He is the club's top scorer this campaign, a strong case for a maiden call-up. Zidane and his staff dedicated 315 goal minutes to observing forwards, a period in which Lepaul has impressed.
This suspense comes as Stade Rennais FC handle a busy schedule. Following a 0-0 draw at Sturm Graz in the Europa League and a 1-0 win over Marseille courtesy of Adrien Thomasson, the team's recent form reads one win, two draws, and two losses from the last five outings. The next fixture is away to Lyon on Saturday, 19 September, wrapping up a dense period before the international break. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page and squad details on squad.
Zidane's decision on Friday will signal the start of a new chapter for Les Bleus and could reward the work being done at Stade Rennais. The coach spent a total of 507 goal minutes studying players for this first list, a figure that shows the significance of this choice for the future of the French national team.
More detail at butfootballclub.fr
