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Zinedine Zidane has named his first squad as head coach of France ahead of the two thousand twenty six UEFA Nations League, and the football world is paying attention. The man who lifted the World Cup as a player and manager now carries the weight of restoring Les Bleus to the top of the international game, armed with perhaps the deepest pool of French talent in a generation.
Across the Channel, Thomas Tuchel has brought Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer back into the England fold, sending a clear message about the direction of his squad. Tuchel was measured but direct, saying the door is always open for players who meet the standard, signaling that form and commitment will always outweigh past friction in his setup.
And in Dublin on Sunday, Connacht back row Jemima Adams Verling is set to earn her first senior cap for Ireland as the Women's XV open their WXV Global Series campaign against the United States. She is the only uncapped player in the matchday squad, lining up at blind-side flanker alongside captain Erin King in what promises to be a landmark moment for the young forward.
That's your play-by-play. Sports Desk, back to the booth.
