After Mbappé's departure: Zidane praises France star as a captain without an armband

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Zinedine Zidane has stressed that Ousmane Dembele represents one of the most important elements of the French national team, considering the Paris Saint-Germain star to be "already a leader" inside the dressing room, despite not wearing the captain's armband, ahead of the eagerly awaited clash against Belgium.

Tomorrow in Brussels, Zidane takes charge of his second match with France in the UEFA Nations League. He began his mission with an away win over Turkey, and Les Bleus are now chasing a firmer grip on top spot in Group One.

The manager turned to Dembele amid the absence of Kylian Mbappe, ruled out for the rest of the international break with pain in his left knee. He did not explicitly reveal who would replace the France captain.

"For me, Dembele is already a leader," the Les Bleus coach said. "He performs this role even if he is not an official captain, and that is clear. He is a wonderful person who always supports others, and we must make use of his experience."

Dembele looks the leading candidate to lead the France attack against Belgium. Zidane praised his commitment and his ability to carry out his attacking duties efficiently, explaining: "In Turkey, he played in the same position he occupies with Paris Saint-Germain, and he performs this role excellently. He has wonderful commitment and dedication, immense energy, and he can easily play a full 90 minutes."

Asked about his options to replace Mbappe, Zidane said: "Doue and Barcola are two young players with high dynamism, and they are extremely interesting. I like this type of player because they are capable of making the difference from the wings."

Rayan Cherki also drew admiration from the French coach, who confirmed he prefers him in midfield. "He can play in several positions, but I prefer him in midfield," he said. "He is able to receive balls between the lines, delivers wonderful passes, and when he plays vertically he is really interesting."

Belgium, Zidane warned, will be a tough test. "They are a very good side, they put in a wonderful performance at the World Cup, and they have outstanding players on an individual level. We know it will be a wonderful match."

In the dugout opposite stands Mark van Bommel, whom Zidane faced several times as a player. The France coach recalled his old opponent: "I admired his style. He had a strong character and a distinctive presence on the pitch."

Zidane signed off by urging his players to savour their time with the national team. "Football passes quickly. I am 54 years old and can no longer play, so I tell them to enjoy the moment, because it passes fast."