Zidane's France Squad Announcement Honors Fallen Player
The room fell quiet before a single name from France’s latest squad had been read out. Zinedine Zidane made sure of that.
Before turning to tactics, form and selection, the France head coach used his Nations League press conference on Friday to honour Jesus de Miguel, the CD Tenerife forward who died after suffering a fatal chest injury in a Segunda Division match last week. He was 30.
A tragedy that stopped football in its tracks
De Miguel collided with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono in the closing stages of their game on November 2. The impact caused a blunt cardiac injury and cardiac arrest. Medics resuscitated him on the pitch and rushed him to the University Hospital of Nuestra Senora de Candelaria in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, but his condition deteriorated overnight.
He passed away the following morning.
A preliminary autopsy confirmed accidental chest trauma as the cause of death. Spanish police and judicial authorities have opened a routine investigation into the non-natural fatality, looking at potential involuntary manslaughter charges and the medical protocols followed at pitchside – standard procedure in such cases, but a stark reminder of the seriousness of what unfolded.
Zidane, who had joined Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez in paying respects ahead of the player’s funeral in Navahermosa, spoke with visible emotion.
"I'm saddened by what happened, deeply affected. It even gives me goosebumps, because you never want to see something like that on a football pitch," he told reporters.
Then he turned to the people left behind.
"Above all, I feel sad for the family. I hope I never see anything like that again on a football pitch for the rest of my life."
On a day designed to be about lists, systems and selection battles, the game suddenly felt very small.
Mbappé back to lead France
Only after that did Zidane move to the business of November. France, top of their UEFA Nations League group, face a decisive double-header to close out the calendar year and push for a place in the knockout stages.
The headline is clear: Kylian Mbappé is back.
The captain returns from an injury lay-off to spearhead a 23-man squad that blends established stars with fresh energy. His presence is more than symbolic. With qualification on the line and only two fixtures left in the group, Zidane will lean heavily on his skipper’s authority, explosiveness and knack for deciding tight games.
There was also room for a new face. Pablo Pagis, rewarded for his form at club level, receives his first senior international call-up. For the attacker, it is the kind of moment every young player dreams of; for Zidane, it is another attacking option at a time when France want to turn control of the group into something concrete.
The mission now is straightforward and unforgiving: finish the job, secure the knockout place, and carry momentum into a year that will only grow more demanding.
