Eduardo Camavinga: Missing the World Cup Affected Me a Lot

Camavinga says missing the World Cup was a new kind of disappointment for him, but he believes he has time to recover. The 23-year-old Real Madrid midfielder was left out of Didier Deschamps's squad for the tournament.

"Missing the World Cup affected me. That kind of disappointment was something new for me, but the most important thing is to get back up," Camavinga said. "Since my career began everything has gone very fast, but Rome wasn't built in a day and I still have plenty of time ahead of me."

He was speaking at the press conference before France's Nations League game against Belgium, the second fixture of the group phase. Fabrizio Romano also carried the quote.

Asked what he lacks to be a regular starter at Real Madrid, Camavinga pointed to himself. "I need more consistency," he said. "I've had good performances, but I need to be more consistent. I have to be more focused on the pitch and make fewer mistakes."

France now have Zinédine Zidane as coach, and Camavinga was among the surprise names in his squad for the September window. Aurélien Tchouameni's fitness problems helped open the door, but Diario AS reports that Zidane rates him. Deschamps preferred more physical midfielders and never really relied on Camavinga. Zidane, by all accounts, sees a shortage of technical players who can move the ball, and Camavinga fits that.

The early return was as intended. Camavinga came on against Türkiye with France leading 1-0 in a frantic game, and the side saw it out without alarm.

"I just want him to give me confidence," Camavinga said of Zidane. "It is very special to be under his orders because everybody knows what Zidane means in this country."

His position at Real Madrid is less settled. He was strongly linked with a move away in the summer, stayed, and has since seen his role under Carlo Ancelotti grow a little. If Zidane keeps picking him, that run of games for France may help his case at club level too.