Zidane registers remarkable start with Blues

Manager Zinedine Zidane has made a remarkable start to his tenure at the helm of the French national team, successfully guiding the squad to three victories and a single draw across his first four matches in charge, thus equaling the record set by Jacques Santini back in 2002. The French side has maintained an undefeated record since Zidane assumed managerial duties, beginning their campaign with a narrow victory over Turkey before repeating the exact scoreline against Belgium, followed by a one-all stalemate with Italy, and culminating in a resounding win over Belgium by four goals to one in group stage action. The latest triumph elevated the French points tally to ten, cementing their position at the summit of the standings after the team overturned an early deficit into a comprehensive victory courtesy of four unanswered goals scored during the second half of the match. The Belgian team had initially broken the deadlock through Dodi Lukebakio before the final stages of the fixture witnessed dramatic scenes, as Desire Doue equalized for the hosts, shortly followed by Rayan Cherki who added the second, paving the way for Michael Olise to net a quickfire brace and complete the four-goal routing. Zidane demonstrated astute tactical awareness by reading the game effectively and introducing successful substitutions that altered the course of play, granting Doue, Cherki, and Olise influential attacking roles that resulted in substitutes scoring four crucial goals to turn the tide for the hosts. The official debut for Zidane leading Les Bleus occurred in September when he steered the team past Turkey by a solitary goal, before duplicating the result against Belgium in the subsequent fixture. The national team returned to host their opponents on home turf against Italy in what marked Zidane's first appearance in front of local supporters, ending in a one-all draw after Michael Olise opened the scoring for France prior to Alessandro Bastoni restoring parity for the visitors. Following the emphatic victory over Belgium, Zidane became only the second manager in French football history since 2002 to record three wins and a draw in his opening four fixtures, replicating the achievement of Jacques Santini when he took over the reins nearly twenty-four years ago. This stellar beginning holds profound significance for Zidane, who inherited the managerial post from Didier Deschamps following the conclusion of the World Cup, embarking on a long-awaited chapter in his coaching career. The French football governing body had previously announced Zidane's appointment during the summer, succeeding Deschamps who concluded a fourteen-year tenure directing the senior national squad. This robust start propelled the team to the top of the group standings with ten points, ahead of Belgium in second place with six points, while Italy occupies the third spot with four points, leaving Turkey at the bottom without any points. Two group fixtures still await the French side during the upcoming international break against Italy and Turkey, with Zidane aiming to sustain positive outcomes and secure progression to the knockout stages. These outcomes provide a massive psychological boost for Zidane in his maiden managerial stint at international level, following a hiatus from coaching since his departure from Spanish giants Real Madrid. The manager boasts a stellar track record of successes during his tenure with the Madrid club, highlighted by three consecutive triumphs in the UEFA Champions League alongside numerous domestic and continental honors, as he embarks on a fresh challenge with the jersey he once wore as a player. Zidane aspires to translate this promising introduction into sustainable achievements with the current generation, particularly as the team enters a transitional phase following the conclusion of the Deschamps era, making the group stage matches the ultimate official test for the new technical regime. After a mere four fixtures, Zidane stands on the cusp of writing history anew, reviving memories of Santini's long-standing benchmark and initiating a fresh chapter devoid of defeat with a balanced harvest reflecting early stability.