France opened its UEFA Nations League campaign with a victory over Turkey, but the debut of head coach Zinedine Zidane was immediately overshadowed by a knee injury to captain Kylian Mbappé. The Real Madrid forward scored the match’s only goal in the 54th minute before signaling discomfort and leaving the pitch three minutes later. Following medical assessment, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed that the player’s international break has ended and he is returning to his club for further treatment.
Zidane’s Winning Debut Overshadowed by Captain’s Injury
The match marked the managerial return of Zinedine Zidane, who took charge of the French national team for the first time since concluding his tenure as Real Madrid manager in 2021. Playing in a high-intensity environment, the team broke the deadlock early in the second half when Michael Olise picked out Mbappé on the left flank. The forward drove into the penalty area and beat Turkey goalkeeper Çakır at the near post to secure his 67th international goal.
Celebrations turned to concern almost immediately as Mbappé appeared in distress following the strike. After receiving initial treatment on the field, he attempted to continue playing before dropping to the turf and clutching the outside of his left knee. Désiré Doué replaced him in the 57th minute.
“It’s not pleasant. Unfortunately, I think he will have to go back to the club. We don’t want to take any risks. He strained his knee on the shot. It’s not very encouraging,” Zidane told TF1 after the match. The FFF subsequently formalized the decision, releasing the forward back to Real Madrid to undergo additional medical evaluations.
Tactical Shift and Future Fixtures
Before the injury occurred, Zidane implemented a notable tactical alteration in his starting lineup. Under former coach Didier Deschamps, Mbappé typically featured through the center of the attack, but the returning manager deployed him on the left wing.
“It was a truly emotional evening, but the debut was successful in a difficult environment. I think we played quite well. After three and a half training sessions together, I saw a lot of interesting things. It’s encouraging,” Zidane reflected on his touchline debut.
With three matches remaining in a demanding ten-day window, Les Bleus travel to Brussels to face Belgium on Monday. Belgium opened its group fixtures with a 2:0 win over Italy. Zidane’s side will then prepare for a home fixture against the Italians at the Stade de France.
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