Zidane and Klopp face their first tests with France and Germany in the 2026/27 Nations League

The dawn of Ulsan never lies, but the dawn over the training grounds at Clairefontaine and Frankfurt is not much kinder this week. The 2026/27 Nations League starts in the middle of the week, yet fans are not just watching the scores. They are watching two new faces on the touchline: Zinedine Zidane for France and Jurgen Klopp for Germany. Both are taking charge of a national team for the first time in a unique context: after the 2026 World Cup, no fewer than ten European federations have appointed new coaches. This is the densest wave of managerial change after a World Cup in recent years. There are phone calls that last only three minutes, yet they change an entire summer. The deal that brought Zidane back to France probably started with such a call. Zidane, the 2026 World Cup winner as a player, had long been expected to succeed Didier Deschamps. Deschamps led Les Bleus for 14 years and announced the 2026 World Cup would close his tenure. From that moment, the name “Zizou” was almost the only choice French fans mentioned. In July 2026, the French Football Federation confirmed what everyone had been waiting for: Zidane replaced his former captain as head coach of Les Bleus. In an interview with AS, Kylian Mbappe recalled meeting Zidane during a trial at Real Madrid’s youth academy: “He was the first person who picked me up to take me to Real Madrid, to the training complex. I was 13 or 14. Now he is my national team coach. It’s like a film, but it’s amazing. It’s real.” That story shows how deep the bond between Zidane and the current generation of French players is. But football does not run on beautiful memories. It runs on decisions on the pitch, on handling pressure, and on turning individual talent into a collective. Zidane, 54, will have three opening matches that serve as a true examination. His debut is an away match against Turkey on Friday, followed by Belgium three days later. On October 2, he will take charge at the Stade de France for the first time against Italy, then face Belgium again in Paris. The schedule is not forgiving. Turkey are always difficult at home, Belgium just appointed Mark van Bommel and are eager to prove themselves, and Italy under Roberto Mancini have never been easy opponents. Zidane said in July: “The France job was the only one I wanted. I have had offers over these four or five years to take charge of a club and I turned them all down for the French national team. I am ready for the challenge, that is what drives me.” If Zidane represents the return of an icon, Klopp is an adventure many Germans thought would never happen. Klopp was never capped as a player for Germany, but he built his name as a coach. From Borussia Dortmund to Liverpool, then a spell as Red Bull’s global sports director, he now leads the Nationalmannschaft after Julian Nagelsmann left following Germany’s disappointing World Cup. At his unveiling, Klopp said: “This is ideally the high point of my career, of my life, my professional life. I will give it everything I have.” The charismatic 59-year-old immediately showed he will do things his own way: he called up 44 players, divided into two squads, for his first two matches. Germany will face the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Thursday, then host Greece three days later. In early October, they meet Serbia in Munich on October 1 and travel to Greece on October 4. Splitting the squad is not just a way to test players. It also signals that Klopp wants to give opportunities to many players, to see who has the mentality to wear the national shirt in real competition. International football differs from club football because preparation time is extremely short. A coach cannot refine every detail. He must choose the right pieces and create a system simple enough for everyone to understand, yet flexible enough not to be figured out. The opening round of Nations League matches also features a host of other new faces. Jorge Jesus takes charge of Portugal, the reigning champions, in their match against Wales. Roberto Mancini, who masterminded Italy’s Euro 2026 victory, returns to try and revive the struggling Azzurri. Mark van Bommel, former Bayern Munich and Netherlands midfielder, oversees his first Belgium match against Italy. Slaven Bilic takes over Croatia for a second time after a successful six-year spell between 2026 and 2026. Meanwhile, Luis de la Fuente, who led Spain to the 2026 World Cup and Euro 2026 titles, remains in charge. On Monday, the Spanish Football Federation rewarded him with a contract extension until 2032. Spain will begin their pursuit of a second Nations League title with a marquee clash against Thomas Tuchel’s England at Wembley on Saturday. From my experience following matches over many decades, the Nations League is not like ordinary friendlies. It has competition, standings, promotion and relegation, and high-level matches from the group stage. But for new coaches, this early phase feels like a dress rehearsal. Passes, tactical meetings, even touchline instructions are being tested. A win can create euphoria, but it does not necessarily reflect true quality. A loss can also hide positive signs that the public does not see immediately. Zidane’s task is complicated because he succeeds a coach who took France to the 2026 and 2026 World Cup finals and built a very stable team. Deschamps succeeded through solidity, discipline, and maximising his biggest stars. Zidane may bring more fluidity in possession, but the question is whether France’s players can adapt quickly to a new approach. Mbappe, the team’s biggest star, grew up idolising Zidane. That creates comfort, but also enormous expectation. If Mbappe does not shine in the opening matches, pressure will fall on both of them. Klopp’s challenge comes from German expectations of pressing football, intensity and fighting spirit. Calling up 44 players shows he wants to see things with his own eyes, not rely on reports. Two separate squads might hurt stability, but they give Klopp real data about each individual. He needs to find players who can sustain a high pressing intensity over several consecutive matches. The Netherlands are the perfect opponent to test that, because they always have technically gifted midfielders who can escape pressure through short passing. If Klopp’s Germany can press successfully against the Netherlands away, that will be a very significant signal. The blind spot in this story is that public opinion tends to connect results with a coach’s ability too early. Some wins mean nothing, and some defeats open the door to something bigger. Son Heung-min was heavily criticised in 2026 even though he covered the most distance in the team against Mexico; I learned that judging people over one or two matches is unfair. Zidane and Klopp will be judged match by match, but their true value will only appear after many months, when tactical ideas are repeated and become collective instinct. The opening Nations League matches are a time for experimentation, for accepting risks, and for looking directly at the gaps that friendly wins can hide. For the other coaches, the story is no simpler. Jorge Jesus leads Portugal, a team always under the microscope because of its golden generation. He benefits from playing at home against Wales, but pressure will build if the team does not show a clear identity. Roberto Mancini arrives in Italy amid decline after the Euro 2026 triumph. He understands Italian football culture, but that culture has changed. Mark van Bommel starts with Belgium against Italy, an extremely difficult test for a newcomer at national level. Slaven Bilic returns to Croatia after more than a decade, and European football is different now. His familiarity with Croatia is an advantage, but he needs to prove he can keep up with the modern pace. As for Spain, Luis de la Fuente is building a real dynasty. A contract until 2032 shows the Spanish federation does not want to gamble on stability. The match against Thomas Tuchel’s England at Wembley will be an important milestone. England always have exceptional individuals, but their problem lies in connecting those stars into a collective. Tuchel is a Champions League-winning coach, but at national team level, reputation is not enough to win matches. This is where small details make the difference: pressing structure, midfield positioning, and reaction when the opponent pushes forward. The 2026/27 Nations League is not just another tournament. For this group of new coaches, it is a rough sketch of the eras to come. Zidane and Klopp have big reputations, but international football has its own rhythm. Players cannot always absorb tactical instructions in just three days of training. What matters more is creating a mental framework, an operating structure, and letting players express themselves within clear boundaries. The coach who understands this sooner will last longer. This week, do not rush to decide who is the better coach. Watch how they handle small crises, how they use their players, how they adjust during matches. As the regular season moves on, we will see small details accumulate into the shape of a team. Modern football runs on money, but the dawn phone call runs on trust. And at 61, I still answer the phone at 4 a.m. – because Ulsan never calls just to say goodnight, but because great stories always begin in moments nobody notices.