Netease Sports, September 1st report:
During the South Africa World Cup, the French team became one of the most watched teams, and the reason was due to endless internal conflicts, insults and other disharmonious factors. This also led to Domenech's team being sent home early. As the runner-up of the 2006 World Cup, France’s poor performance in South Africa was condemned by domestic public opinion and media.
After Blanc took office, he was determined to change the bad image of French football. Everyone understands that the embarrassment of the French team is not caused by lack of strength, and Blanc also deeply understands this point. In addition to changes in player selection, Blanc also focuses on resolving conflicts in the dressing room. This time, two legendary French players, Zidane and Barthes, who were members of the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship-winning team, were invited to help their old friend.
In the new French national team, 10 players participated in the South Africa World Cup, big names like Anelka and Evra were all excluded, replaced by Benzema, Saha and other players who did not participate in the 2010 South Africa World Cup. At the beginning of September, France will face two European Championship qualifiers, first hosting Belarus, then playing against Bosnia and Herzegovina away. This is the first official game since Blanc took office, bearing the expectations of the French people, Blanc sets sail with the new Gaul roosters.
Blanc invited Zidane and Barthes to the national team training base, firstly using their prestige to instill the idea of serving the country into the new players, and requiring the players to firmly support Blanc's policies to achieve unity; secondly, it is also to convey a good signal to the outside world: using Zidane and Barthes' personal prestige to establish a positive image for the new team.
Currently, Zidane and Barthes are both at the French team training base Clairefontaine. The French approach somewhat emulates the Italian national team's invitation of Baggio as the technical director, its symbolic significance outweighs its practical significance. However, Blanc, who has shallow coaching qualifications, needs Zidane's help to "control" the team. Previously, Real Madrid had been rumored to want to hire Zidane as a diplomatic ambassador, but it ultimately failed to materialize.
(Source: Netease Sports, Author: Li Luntès)