Jérémy Jacquet wins Zidane's praise after Italy draw

Jérémy Jacquet has strengthened his early position in the France squad after another assured display under Zinedine Zidane. The Liverpool defender started in central defence against Italy, following his appearance in the previous international against Belgium, and again showed he can handle the demands of the new era in Les Bleus.

France controlled much of the game but had to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Stade de France as Zinédine Zidane returned to the venue. Jacquet completed 79 of his 80 passes and had 90 touches. He won four of seven duels, made three tackles and added two recoveries. His willingness to defend high up the pitch also matched Zidane’s instructions, with the 21-year-old repeatedly stepping into Italian territory to press.

The performance earned Jacquet France’s joint-highest rating, alongside Michael Olise, and drew emphatic approval from Zidane after the match. The coach highlighted his courage when defending away from the back line, his work in duels and his overall commitment. Jacquet, who has said he is playing without pressure and feels well integrated into the squad, now has one final opportunity during this international window. With Dayot Upamecano unavailable, the next match against Belgium offers another test as he seeks to establish himself in the France defence.