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Zinedine Zidane praises Lucas Da Cunha for strong international performances

France midfielder Lucas Da Cunha impresses Zinedine Zidane despite a costly error against Italy.

Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 4 October 2026

Zinedine Zidane has offered high praise for Lucas Da Cunha following his impressive displays in the middle of the pitch for France. The midfielder started against Belgium and Italy during the Nations League fixtures. Les Bleus secured a narrow win against Belgium and a draw against the Azzurri. Pundits and fans watched closely as the team maintained their position at the top of the group.

Strong numbers across the pitch

During the match against Belgium, Da Cunha won possession more often than any teammate. He also recorded the second most touches and successful passes on the pitch. Against Italy, he created four chances at the Stade de France while completing the vast majority of his passes. These strong statistics show his growing importance to the national team setup.

Costly error and manager defence

Despite his overall strong play, Da Cunha made a mistake that allowed Italy to score an equalising goal. Alessandro Bastoni pounced on a mix up involving the midfielder and Adrien Rabiot. However, Zidane quickly defended the player in his post match comments. The former great pointed out that mistakes happen to everyone and chose to focus on the positives.

What the manager likes

Zidane highlighted the personality and bravery of the twenty five year old midfielder. He praised the ability to filter passes and spray forty yard switches across the pitch. Such qualities make him a very interesting prospect for anyone watching the team closely. His spot in the squad appears secure based on these latest outings.

Group standing and upcoming fixtures

France currently sits at the top of Group A1 in the competition after three matches played. They face second place Belgium in their upcoming fixture to close out this international break. Punters tracking the group will note the steady performances from key players. Maintaining squad depth remains crucial for upcoming matches.

Market movement for punters

Solid performances from key midfielders usually shorten odds for a team in tournament markets. Expect bookmakers to price France shorter for future matches following this praise from Zidane. Bettors looking at group winners might find shorter odds now that the team sits comfortably at the top. On the other hand, the defensive mistake might drift prices slightly for clean sheet markets.