France Team's Stumbles: Protocol, Boots, and a Forgotten Flag in Zidane's Debut Camp

The French national team enjoyed a successful period under Zinédine Zidane's first spell as coach, securing three wins and a draw in four matches. Behind the scenes, however, minor logistical issues surfaced.

With an unbeaten record in four games and a path to the Nations League quarter-finals, Zinédine Zidane made a strong start as France's manager. The dramatic comeback win against Belgium at the Stade de France (4-1) concluded the initial training camp on a high note.

While 'Zizou mania' continues among French supporters, the international break wasn't entirely smooth. Small problems in logistics and administration emerged, indicating the new staff is still adjusting. These issues were reportedly discussed internally during a debriefing with team officials, as confirmed to RMC Sport.

Protocol Mishap vs. Turkey

Before Zidane's first match against Turkey in Izmit (0-1), a protocol issue disrupted the pre-game. For his debut as national team boss, Zinédine Zidane's absence during the start of "La Marseillaise" was noticeable. His staff hadn't fully briefed him on the precise order of events, being unaccustomed to such a detailed schedule.

"The protocol moved faster than expected. I was a little slow to get going," the 1998 World Cup winner admitted with a smile when discussing the minor setback post-match. "I would have preferred to be there from the beginning."

Boot, Sock, and Flag Troubles

Zinédine Zidane wasn't the only one to experience a logistical snag during the camp. A forgotten team flag required a quick retrieval from the locker room for the customary pre-match exchange. According to RMC Sport, some players also expressed frustration over their screw-in boots not being properly tightened.

Although Zinédine Zidane was present for the entire anthem before his second game as coach, issues persisted during the crucial match against Belgium in Brussels (0-1). As broadcaster TF1 noted, contributing to a slight delay in kick-off, a problem with players' socks was observed during the trip to Belgium.

These minor hitches, alongside Zinédine Zidane's tactical adjustments, offer areas for improvement during the next training camp in November. The French staff has just over a month to iron out these logistical challenges before facing Italy and Turkey again in the Nations League.