Zinedine Zidane Leads France Past Turkey as Kylian Mbappé Scores and Exits

France opened their UEFA Nations League 2026/27 campaign with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Turkey on February 25, marking a winning start for newly appointed manager Zinedine Zidane.

Zidane Era Begins with Victory in Istanbul

Taking charge of his first competitive fixture following the departure of Didier Deschamps after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Zidane deployed a strong starting lineup featuring Mike Maignan in goal, Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, Maxence Lacroix, and Adrien Truffert across the back line. Adrien Rabiot, Manu Koné, and Rayan Cherki anchored the midfield, while Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé supported Mbappé on the left flank.

The visitors controlled the tempo early on, dominating possession with roughly 70 percent of the ball in the first half. Despite registering five shots before the break, France struggled to break down a resilient Turkish defense. Olise found Mbappé in the 17th minute with a cross from the right wing, but the forward’s shot missed the target as the teams went into halftime scoreless.

Mbappé Scores and Exits with Injury

The deadlock finally broke nine minutes into the second half. Recovering possession deep in Turkish territory, Olise delivered a precise through-ball to Mbappé just outside the penalty area. The French forward unleashed a powerful right-footed strike into theニアサイド (near post) to net the first goal of the Zidane era. The strike marked Mbappé’s 67th career goal for the senior national team.

Celebration quickly turned to concern as Mbappé immediately grabbed his left knee, dropping to the turf in obvious discomfort. Although he briefly attempted to resume playing, the forward went down a second time and could not continue. In the 60th minute, Désiré Doué replaced the injured captain.

Defensive Resilience Secures the Result

Following the substitution, Zidane introduced Bradley Barcola and Eduardo Camavinga in place of Olise and Cherki to fresh legs into the attack. Turkey responded by pressing aggressively for an equalizer in the closing stages. Goalkeeper Maignan and the French defensive unit stood firm against the late onslaught, preserving the single-goal advantage until the final whistle.

With the 1–0 victory secured, France claims all three points in their opening match of League A. Les Bleus now turn their attention to their next fixture, an away match against Belgium scheduled for February 28.