According to The Sun, Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane recently revealed that he has been receiving mental coaching to help cope with the intense pressure of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stating that the experience "changed his life."
As the son of French football legend Zinédine Zidane, Luca Zidane is currently the goalkeeper for Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, following a 0-3 loss to Argentina in their opening group stage match, the team faces intense external pressure.
Confronted with widespread criticism, Luca Zidane said he has learned to handle it more maturely.
"I started working with a mental coach, but I've never spoken about it publicly before."
"For me, it changed my life, especially in football. Nowadays, mental state is just as important as physical state."
After Algeria's disappointing first match, players expressed frustration with harsh criticism from domestic fans and media. There were also reports of disagreements between some senior players and head coach Petković over his tactical decisions. The former Switzerland national team coach made controversial choices in the opener, including benching captain Mahrez.
Currently, Algeria's qualification prospects in Group J remain uncertain. The team must win their next match against Jordan to take control of their fate.
The 28-year-old Luca Zidane is expected to remain as the team's starting goalkeeper. He also revealed that the person most likely to critique his performances at home is not his father Zinédine, but his mother.
"We talk about football at home often, but not with my father. My father doesn't interfere with what I do; my mother does."
"Whenever I come home after a match, my mother always asks me: 'Why did you do that?' My father rarely does that."
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