France meets Turkey in a decisive Nations League fixture at the Stade Atlantique on Sunday night, looking to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat against Italy in Milan.
Manager Zinédine Zidane directed a closed training session on Saturday evening at the Bordeaux venue to test tactical setups ahead of the Group 1 encounter. RMC Sport reported that the tactical shape during practice included Andy Diouf positioned on the right side of a defensive line alongside Jérémy Jacquet and Ibrahima Konaté.
In midfield, Warren Zaïre-Emery paired with Lucas Da Cunha during the drills. A selection choice remains between Rayan Cherki and Eduardo Camavinga for the final midfield spot. Up front, Michael Olise operated alongside Bradley Barcola and captain Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé returns to the squad after being preserved during the match in Italy. Foot Mercato noted that the Real Madrid forward is expected to take up his preferred central position.
Forward Désiré Doué remains uncertain for Sunday’s fixture. Doué suffered a dislodged tooth following an elbow from Davide Frattesi during the match against Italy, leaving his availability in question.
France requires at least a draw against Turkey to secure direct qualification for the Nations League quarterfinals. A defeat would force Les Bleus to rely on the parallel result between Belgium and Italy.
Un point suffit, mais l’objectif est toujours de gagner, a déclaré Zinedine Zidane.
The match at the Stade Atlantique kicks off at 20h45 local time in front of an expected sell-out crowd of 42,000 supporters, marking the first time the French national team has played an official competitive fixture in Bordeaux.
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