{
  "id": 9022472,
  "title": "Zidane leads first France training session",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/zidane-leads-first-france-training-session-9022472",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T21:42:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/22/zidane-leads-first-france-training-session"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "French football legend Zinedine Zidane led his inaugural training session for the national team on Monday, as Les Bleus gear up for the new Nations League season. Over 50 journalists observed the 1998 World Cup champion guide a dozen players through a light training routine at the French national football center, Clairefontaine. Due to several star players being engaged with their club teams across Europe, only 12 out of Zidane's 23-man squad attended the session. Michael Olise, Eduardo Camavinga, Jules Kounde, and Dayot Upamecano participated, while the absent Kylian Mbappe, who recently suffered a loss in Real Madrid's derby, was notably not present. Zidane was accompanied by his assistant David Bettoni, who shared the same coaching role at Real Madrid, and fellow France veteran Fabien Barthez, who serves as the goalkeeping coach. The session concluded with a brief practice match and Zidane delivering shots on goal from crosses. Les Bleus have four Nations League matches scheduled under Zidane's leadership: away games in Turkey and Belgium on September 25 and 28, followed by home games against Italy and Belgium at the Stade de France in early October.",
  "summary": "With many of France's stars in action with their clubs across Europe last weekend, not all of Zinedine Zidane's 23-man squad were present.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Zidane leads first France training session",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/zidane-leads-first-france-training-session",
        "published": "2026-09-21T21:42:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}