"I'd put him ahead of everyone," Riolo wants Warren Zaïre-Emery as France's right-back

Pundit Daniel Riolo argues Warren Zaïre-Emery should play right-back for France, disagreeing with Zidane's plan to use him in midfield.

Daniel Riolo, a commentator on After Foot, has called for Warren Zaïre-Emery to be deployed as France's right-back, a position he says is critically understaffed in the national team. The debate arose after Pierre Kalulu's withdrawal from the squad, prompting manager Zinédine Zidane to call up Saël Kumbedi from Wolfsburg's second team.

Riolo points out that Zaïre-Emery, 20, had a convincing spell playing right-back for Paris Saint-Germain last season and would be a superior option to current alternatives Malo Gusto and Jules Koundé, who was moved from centre-back.

Zidane has insisted he wants to use Zaïre-Emery in midfield, his preferred position. Riolo strongly disagrees, saying he would rank the PSG player ahead of all other right-back options and would have selected him for the World Cup. He dismisses concerns about adaptation difficulties between PSG's style and France's system, arguing that any player leaving PSG would face similar adjustment challenges. Riolo concludes that Zaïre-Emery is the clear starter for the position.