Zinédine Zidane leads France to 1-0 win over Turkey as Kylian Mbappé scores

Zidane became the first French manager to win his opening match in charge since Aimé Jacquet achieved the feat in 1994. Operating from the touchline in a black suit, he oversaw a disjointed first-half performance before finding a breakthrough shortly after the interval at a hostile venue in Izmit.

Tactical Shifts and a Volcanic Atmosphere

Prior to kick-off, Zidane arrived slightly late for La Marseillaise, which was met with loud jeers from the local Turkish supporters. For his initial lineup, the new manager deployed ten players who featured at the World Cup, with Adrien Truffert representing the only addition as he started at left-back.

The primary tactical adjustment involved shifting Mbappé to the left flank—a position the national team’s all-time leading scorer had not occupied since Euro 2024. This change allowed Ousmane Dembélé to operate in a wide role resembling his club setup at Paris SG. Despite these alterations, the visitors produced a sluggish opening half on a poor playing surface, registering only an off-target effort from Mbappé in the 17th minute and a late shot from Cherki before halftime against the 27th-ranked FIFA side.

Mbappé Breaks the Deadlock Before Injury Strike

The match turned nine minutes into the second half when Michael Olise delivered a precise pass following defensive pressure from Dembélé, allowing Mbappé to convert his 67th international goal in his 107th appearance for Les Bleus.

The advantage provided breathing room, but the evening soon turned concerning for the technical staff. In the 64th minute, Zidane was forced to substitute his captain after Mbappé sustained a knee injury. Désiré Doué replaced the forward, and the player returned to Madrid to avoid further risk regarding a tendon strain.

Closing Out the Result

With the lead established, France found more space as Turkey pushed forward. Michael Olise caused continuous problems for the opposing defense, setting up Jules Koundé for a shot that struck the goalpost in the 68th minute. Olise also missed the target in the 72nd minute before the Turkish goalkeeper received a red card in the 86th minute for handling the ball outside the penalty area.

At the other end, goalkeeper Mike Maignan made crucial saves in the 50th and 75th minutes to preserve the clean sheet. The performance highlighted significant room for progression, but the result successfully launched the team’s latest cycle under new guidance.

Next Fixture and Schedule

Les Bleus have little time to dwell on the performance in Turkey as preparations immediately turn toward their next assignment. France travels to face Belgium in Brussels on Monday.