"We're living a fantasy": France '98 stars celebrate Zidane's debut as coach

Several former players from France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad expressed their delight following Zinédine Zidane's successful debut as the French national team coach. The players gathered in Metz for Robert Pirès' testimonial match.

Zidane has completed his first four matches as the Blues' manager unbeaten, securing three wins and one draw in the Nations League. Beyond the strong record, the coach has earned universal praise from fans, sparking a significant "Zizou mania." His former France '98 teammates are equally impressed by the ex-playmaker's early tenure.

"I'm not disappointed, I'm actually full of joy because this is what I expected," said Frank Lebœuf with a smile on Tuesday, on the sidelines of Robert Pirès' testimonial in Metz. "There are still imperfections, of course, but we're living a fantasy. People used to say, 'Oh, Zidane as coach.' It's a bit like with Michel Platini in the 90s. Now we have the ultimate prize, and we have the talent, we have the right players. It's extraordinary!"

"It's not a dream, it's reality"

Gathered at Saint-Symphorien the day after a decisive win against Belgium, several distinguished former France internationals offered glowing reviews of the Blues' first training camp under Zidane. Although his presence had been hoped for, Zinédine Zidane was unable to make it to Moselle.

"The 'Zizoumania' is here, it exists. After all, we're talking about one of the greatest players football has ever produced," Robert Pirès enthused during his testimonial evening.

Vincent Candela shared the sentiment: "It's not a dream, it's reality. He's doing well, he's in place. It will take some time for him to fully implement his footballing philosophy. We have time, and I think it will go very, very well."

Why Zidane has succeeded so well with the Blues

Youri Djorkaeff, a former attacking partner of Zinédine Zidane, particularly during the golden run of the 1998 World Cup, detailed what makes him a good player and now a good coach: "He's direct, he's not about showing off. He makes the right move, and that's what must be enjoyable for these young players too – having direct communication."

For Frank Leboeuf, the former number 10's success is also due to his aura and charisma with players and fans: "It feels like people are watching Zidane more than what's happening on the pitch right now. Everything he does is photographed, filmed."

"It feels like people aren't watching the match, but well... maybe that's just normal."

Robert Pirès validated this point: "We have a great squad, we have a more than great coach. The proof is, when we're at the Stade de France and the players are announced, you see that Zizou gets the loudest cheers. So it's good for him, and it's also interesting for the players who play under him to learn and progress."

Djorkaeff expects more from the Blues' attack

With an almost perfect record in the first four matches, the French team has displayed a resolutely offensive style focused on ball possession. Praising the presence of France '98 members within the current setup, 'The Snake' savored seeing a former playmaker share his style with the players.

"We had Laurent (Blanc), Dédé (Deschamps), and now Zizou. There's a France '98 transition in the national team, it's present. There's the spirit, and Thierry Henry was also with the Olympics team. There's certainly a strong mark of France '98 on the national team. But what's good is that each player brought their own distinct touch. And now, to finally see a technical player who played up front with me, coaching, that's great. I'll be even more demanding with him than I was with Lolo or Dédé regarding offensive play."

Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup already in mind

Despite the genuine enthusiasm following Zidane's first four matches, it's not the right time to judge his overall performance. In the minds of the France '98 generation and many Blues fans, the Nations League holds little importance. The true first test for the new national coach will be Euro 2028.

"I'm happy for him, for Zizou, for France, but we won't judge him now," Frank Leboeuf concluded. "We'll judge him at the European Championship, we'll judge him at the World Cup. We don't really care about the Nations League."

Christian Karembeu also highlighted the need for continuity in his tenure, after expressing his high regard for Zizou: "Of course, we dream with him. That said, the results and the statistics are more than perfect. We're happy with the performances, even if, as he knows, he must continue to work with this team."