France began their UEFA Nations League campaign with a narrow victory against Türkiye on September 25, 2026, marking the managerial debut of Zinédine Zidane. The match featured a single goal from Kylian Mbappé, who unfortunately sustained an injury during the celebration, raising concerns for both the player and the team moving forward.
The Match Overview
At the Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, France faced Vincenzo Montella’s Türkiye. Zidane’s tactical decisions included deploying Mbappé on the left wing and Ousmane Dembélé as the central striker. Despite recent public spats regarding their ambitions for the Ballon d’Or, the duo struggled to find cohesion during the first half. Overall, France’s performance was lackluster, and the team was unable to break through Türkiye’s well-organized defense for significant stretches of the match.
France enjoyed the majority of possession but lacked creativity to convert that into goal-scoring opportunities. The poor condition of the pitch certainly didn’t aid their cause, as the team’s frustration grew. Near the end of the first half, a promising combination involving Rayan Cherki, Dembélé, and Michael Olise ended with a blocked shot, showcasing the Blue’s struggle to penetrate Türkiye’s defense consistently.
The second half saw Türkiye begin with greater intensity and a near scoring opportunity was thwarted by an exceptional save from goalkeeper Mike Maignan, denying Ismail Yüksek. Just three minutes later, France seized the lead. Manu Koné created a decisive turnover, allowing Olise to locate an unmarked Mbappé, who netted his 67th international goal. Unfortunately, in the process, Mbappé appeared to injure his knee, leading to his substitution with Désiré Doué.
Post-Match Analysis
Following Mbappé’s exit, France appeared to lower their intensity, potentially underestimating Türkiye’s capability to rally. Buoyed by their home crowd, Türkiye intensified their efforts, putting pressure on an error-prone French backline. Even after Uğurcan Çakır was sent off for a handball outside the penalty area, Türkiye continued to fight for an equalizer. Ultimately, France scrapped through to earn a hard-fought victory, but concerns lingered about the health of their star player.
The result marked Zidane’s first game in charge—a mixed bag that featured hard work but little flair. The looming challenge of facing Belgium in Brussels could present more difficulties, especially if Mbappé’s injury sidelines him for an extended period.
Player Ratings
Mike Maignan earned a rating of 6 for his key saves, while Adrien Truffert and Maxence Lacroix both received 5 for their respective performances. Dayot Upamecano struggled more than usual and rated a disappointing 4 due to several uncharacteristic mistakes.
Jules Koundé and Adrien Rabiot also scored a 4 for their underwhelming contributions, while Manu Koné managed to secure a 5 for his role in winning possession leading to the goal. Rayan Cherki, despite flashes of talent, rated a 4 for not making a significant impact in midfield.
Kylian Mbappé’s performance was a mix of brilliance and misfortune—rated at 6 for scoring the only goal, yet overshadowed by his injury. Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise trailed further behind, achieving ratings of 4 and 5, respectively, as both players struggled to leave a mark on the match.
France will undoubtedly need to reassess their strategy and lineup ahead of their next encounter, with the hope of gaining momentum and securing their place in the league.