Olivier Boscagli eyes France place after first pre-call-up under Zidane

“It is the first time I have seen my name in a pre-list.” Olivier Boscagli told L’Équipe, in an interview picked up by RMC Sport, about his September surprise: the Brighton defender was among the newcomers on Zinédine Zidane’s first pre-call-up list, only to miss the final squad for France’s first four Nations League games. At 28, he wants another shot.

A gloomy 2025-26, a spotless start to 2026-27

Last season under Fabian Hürzeler, Boscagli made do with 17 appearances, 13 of them starts, in all competitions. This term he has started all eight of Brighton’s games and scored once. “I took part in every pre-season match, unlike last year, when I got injured after five or six days of training,” he said. Brighton sit third in the Premier League, on 10 points from five games.

The former Nice man left for PSV Eindhoven in 2019 before joining Brighton. He is under contract until 2030 and says he never pushed for a move this summer.

“Why not me?”

The next step he wants soon. “You can see Zidane has given a chance to a lot of new players, so I tell myself: ‘Why not me?’” Left out of the final squad in September, Boscagli knows the next pre-call-up will look first at current form.

Sunderland, on Saturday

Form, he has. Brighton travel to Sunderland on Saturday, sixth round, as favourites with the bookmakers: 2.49 at 1xbet on Wednesday for an away win, against 3.10 at Bet365 for Sunderland. At the Stadium of Light in March, the Seagulls won 1-0. Boscagli will chase a ninth straight start. 18+. Only bet what you can afford to lose.