Football

Turkey-France: Zidane starts with a victory in the Nations League

The French team won their first match under Zinédine Zidane's leadership, defeating Turkey 1-0 in Izmit, with a goal from Kylian Mbappé.

25 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Turkey-France: Zidane starts with a victory in the Nations League — Archive photoPhoto: Agence Rol. Agence photographique (commanditaire) · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

The French team began their 2026-2027 Nations League campaign with a 1-0 victory against Turkey. This match, which took place on Friday in Izmit, marks Zinédine Zidane's debut as head coach of Les Bleus.

Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring for France in the 55th minute but soon sustained a left knee injury after his goal, leading to his substitution. This match was particularly significant for Zidane, as he is the first coach to win his opening match in charge since Aimé Jacquet.

The game was played without goal-line technology, although the Blues wore their green away kit for the occasion. The players quickly faced difficult pitch conditions, a challenge highlighted by player Rayan Cherki after the match.

Despite these obstacles, the team managed to secure a positive result, boosting morale under their new coach. Match statistics also indicate that this was France's 10th victory of the year and Mbappé's 12th goal in 2026.

The match was broadcast live on television, capturing the attention of supporters. This success is viewed as a promising start for Zidane, who encouraged his players to stay focused on their game.

Post-match reactions highlighted the team's determination and Zidane's calm demeanor during the game. Les Bleus are now preparing for their next outing, hoping to continue this momentum.

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