Zinédine Zidane Debuts with France Win as Kylian Mbappé Injures Knee
On September 25, 2026, the France national football team secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Turkey in Izmit during the opening match of the UEFA Nations League, marking Zinédine Zidane’s first match as the new national team coach. Kylian Mbappé scored the decisive goal in the 54th minute but subsequently exited the match with a left knee injury, sidelining him for the next three fixtures.
Zidane’s Historic Debut Ends in Victory But Casts Injury Shadow Over Squad
The French national team kicked off its latest UEFA Nations League campaign on September 25, 2026, with a 1-0 victory over a resilient Turkish side in Izmit, according to reports from L’Équipe and Le Monde. The fixture marked the first match of Zinédine Zidane as the new national team coach. With the win, Zidane broke a 32-year drought, becoming the first France coach to start his tenure with a victory since Aimé Jacquet defeated Italy 1-0 on February 16, 1994, as noted by Le Monde.
Captain Kylian Mbappé broke the deadlock in the 54th minute by latching onto a pass from Michael Olise to finish with a composed first-time strike. However, just five minutes later, the forward sat down in the Turkish penalty area holding the back of his left knee. Following a brief assessment by medical staff, Mbappé walked off the pitch to be replaced by Désiré Doué. FranceInfo subsequently confirmed that the captain sustained a left knee injury that rules him out for the next three fixtures of the tournament.
Tactical Grind and Defensive Heroics in Izmit
Le Monde noted that the expected offensive fireworks were put on hold as Turkey pressed the French midfield hard. In the absence of a fluid attacking rhythm, goalkeeper Mike Maignan proved essential in preserving the clean sheet. Maignan tipped Ismail Yüksek’s header over the crossbar in the 53rd minute before denying a powerful strike from Arda Güler in the 76th minute by guarding his near post.
The match grew increasingly tense in the closing stages. In the 87th minute, Bradley Barcola raced toward the Turkish goal, prompting goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakir to rush out of his area. Çakir intercepted the ball with the upper part of his arm outside the box. Following a video assistant referee review, the referee issued a red card, forcing the hosts to finish the match with ten men. The victory puts France second in their group with three points, setting up a quick turnaround for their next fixture against group leaders Belgium on September 28, followed by a home match against Italy on October 2.