Jeremy Jacquet's stock continues to rise after the Liverpool star made his second start for France against Italy, with Zinedine Zidane lavishing him with praise
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 02: Zinedine Zidane, Manager of France, speaks to the media during a press conference after the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between France and Italy at Stade de France on October 02, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Zinedine Zidane couldn't stop praising Jeremy Jacquet after France's draw with Italy(Image: Getty Images)
Zinedine Zidane couldn’t stop praising Jeremy Jacquet after his latest outing for France, with the Liverpool star shining once again this season.
It’s been a superb start to the season for Jacquet, who completed his move to Anfield from Rennes during the summer, and has gone on to establish himself as Virgil van Dijk’s first-choice partner in defense and earn his first international recognition.
Having made his debut against Belgium earlier in the week, the 21-year-old once again started for France in the 1-1 draw with Italy on Friday in what was Zidane’s first home game in charge since taking over from Didier Deschamps during the summer.
And Jacquet certainly didn't disappoint, with his defensive performance earning him yet more praise as Zidane was unable to stop himself from lavishing the Reds’ new favorite with compliments.
“Very good. Very, very good,” Zidane said when asked about Jacquet’s performance against Italy.
“Brave. He wasn’t afraid to come out a long way. Very good in the duels. He was, once again, very good. I said it four times.”
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France's defender #22 Jeremy Jacquet (L) vies with Italy's forward #07 Pio Esposito during the UEFA Nations League, league A day 3: Group 1, football match between France and Italy at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, near Paris, on October 2, 2026. (
Jeremy Jacquet impressed again as he started for France against Italy(Image: Getty )
Having made the most of Ibrahima Konate pulling out of the squad, Jacquet now looks to be in the perfect position to start again in France’s final game of the international break when it takes on Belgium on Monday.
He started alongside Maxence Lacroix on his debut earlier in the week before partnering Dayot Upamecano on Friday, although Zidane will be forced into at least one change in a few days after the Bayern defender was sent off late on against Italy.
Asked about his manager’s praise, Jacquet told reporters: “I’m really happy, we know the kind of player he was, and we also know the coach he was at Real [Madrid].
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“Naturally, receiving congratulations from him makes me very happy.
"As for my relationship with him, it’s excellent; he speaks to me whenever he wants or feels like giving me instructions, so everything is going well."
Bradley Barcola also featured for France on Friday, having come off the bench to replace his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Desire Doue late on, although the Liverpool winger is still searching for his first goal of the season after being unable to find a winner for his country.
France had taken the lead 10 minutes into the second half through Michael Olise before Alessandro Bastoni equalized 13 minutes later, with Upamecano’s red card five minutes from time hindering France’s efforts to find a late winner.