Jean-Philippe Mateta will miss France's first squad under new manager Zinedine Zidane. The Crystal Palace striker has suffered a muscle injury that will keep him out for at least four weeks, as reported by Ouest-France on August 29.
His club manager, Pierre Sage, confirmed the news on Friday after the match against Manchester City. Mateta picked up the injury two days earlier during individual training at the end of a session. This absence comes at a bad time, just weeks before Zidane names his first list as France boss. The manager will now have to plan without one of his attacking options for the September matches, a key step in building his squad for the 2026 World Cup.
How does this impact France's preparations?
The injury to Jean-Philippe Mateta deprives Zinedine Zidane of an offensive option as he prepares to select his first squad. The September fixtures represent the last significant tests before World Cup qualifying begins. The situation is complicated by fierce competition for places up front. France can count on captain Kylian Mbappé, but also have players like Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram. You can check the complete attacking statistics on our stats page.
France will face Italy and Israel during the September international break. These matches are crucial for fine-tuning the team's chemistry before the start of the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup. The full match schedule is available in our fixtures section.
How will Zidane adapt his squad?
Zinedine Zidane, who took over this summer, must now adjust his plans. Mateta's injury opens up a spot among the forwards. Several players could benefit from this opportunity. Regular call-ups like Moussa Diaby, or other in-form players at the start of the club season, will likely be monitored closely.
The manager has always favored an attacking, vertical style of football throughout his coaching career. He looks for complementary profiles in his forward line. Losing Mateta, a physical target man and good finisher, slightly alters the balance of available options. Zidane will need to assess whether to call up a similar profile or opt for a slightly different configuration.
What is the current state of the France team?
The France team is embarking on a new era under Zinedine Zidane following a period of transition. The clear objective is qualification for the 2026 World Cup and a push for a third title. The squad has an experienced core, with players like Mike Maignan in goal, William Saliba in defense, and Antoine Griezmann in midfield.
The manager inherits a team ranked among the world's best nations. Les Bleus reached the final of the last European Championship. They are among the logical favorites for the next World Cup. The current squad composition can be viewed on our squad page.
Mateta's injury is a reminder of the challenges a national team manager must face. Managing the squad and adapting to absences are integral parts of preparing for a major tournament. Zidane and his staff will now refine their list considering this setback, with the goal of perfectly launching this new campaign towards North America.
