France: demanding position, lack of training... How to explain the fullback problem for the Blues

France's fullback crisis exposed in Italy defeat; Zidane identifies youth development gap as root cause, with few elite options available.

France's defensive vulnerabilities in the wide areas were laid bare during their loss to Italy, with right-back Malo Gusto particularly struggling. Manager Zinédine Zidane has long identified fullbacks as a weak point in French football's player development pipeline, raising the issue with the French Football Federation's technical director to emphasize the position in youth categories.

The role demands exceptional completeness: pace, positioning, defensive dueling, crossing ability, and stamina. Former international François Clerc notes it is one of football's most demanding positions, making it difficult to develop elite talent.

Currently, Jules Koundé remains the only experienced option at right-back despite limited playing time at Barcelona, while Pierre Kalulu of Juventus offers some depth—both originally trained as centre-backs. Behind them, candidates like Malo Gusto, Sacha Boey, Lorenz Assignon and Kiliann Sildillia lack either regular club football or proven international standard.

Zidane has called up Saël Kumbedi from second-division German football as a prospect, seeking a young solution to a position in crisis. On the left, the picture is similarly constrained, with Théo and Lucas Hernandez potentially offering hope, though current selections like Romain Truffert and Youssouf Diouf (who plays right-back for his club) have yet to convince.