Zidane opens his tenure with Mbappé's decisive goal
On Friday evening, Zinedine Zidane led the French for their first Nations League match, against Turkey in Izmit, and saw Kylian Mbappé score the decisive goal in the 54th minute before being forced to leave the field injured.
Formation 4‑3‑3 and first strike
Zidane opted for a 4‑3‑3, placing Kylian Mbappé on the left flank and Ousmane Dembélé up front. The French dominated possession from the opening minutes, but the passing sometimes lacked fluidity, limiting chance creation.
Despite the domination, France struggled to break down the Turkish defence. The Turkish block remained compact, forcing the Tricolour to multiply attempts without success. Technical errors punctuated the first half, leaving the score blank.
The turning point came in the 54th minute, when Michael Olise delivered a decisive pass to Mbappé. The 27‑year‑old struck with his right foot and scored the goal, his 67th for France, opening the match's tally.
A few moments after the celebration, Mbappé felt a pain in his knee and had to leave the pitch. He was replaced by Désiré Doué, who took over on the left side.
Zidane picks Mbappé on the left wing for his debut with France
Cakir sent off in the 87th
In the second half, the French displayed greater intensity, both with the ball and in defence. This new dynamic allowed France to maintain its lead and manage the match with more composure.
Turkish goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir was sent off in the 87th minute for a hand outside the box. This dismissal left Turkey with ten men, making it easier for France to manage the score.
The match ended 1‑0, giving the Tricolour their first win under Zidane. The next fixture comes on Monday, when France will face Belgium in the Nations League.
France lose Mbappé to knee injury as Zidane faces squad dilemma
This promising start for the new era of the French national team is however clouded by Mbappé's injury. Zidane hopes the knee issue is minor, so the scorer can quickly rejoin the ranks for the upcoming challenges.