Story summary
Zinedine Zidane, leading France's national team for the first time since replacing Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup, faced a setback when star player Kylian Mbappé was injured during their UEFA Nations League match against Turkey on Friday. The game, held at the Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, saw France secure a narrow 1-0 victory over Turkey. Mbappé scored the winning goal but had to be substituted due to a knee injury, leaving both France and his club Real Madrid concerned about his recovery time.
Mbappé's injury occurred just minutes after he scored from a pass by Michael Olise in the 54th minute, marking his record-extending 67th international goal. He sat on the ground grimacing before being replaced by Desire Doue. Subsequent tests conducted by Real Madrid’s Medical Services diagnosed Mbappé with hyperextension of the posterior capsule of his left knee. While no definitive timeline for recovery was provided, it could impact France's upcoming Nations League matches against Belgium and Italy.
Meanwhile, Turkey underperformed at the World Cup but showed resilience in this match despite finishing bottom of their group. Head coach Vincenzo Montella faced pressure to improve the squad's performance without injured player Kenan Yildiz. The game was broadcast on Prime Video UK, costing £2.49 per viewer, with coverage starting 10 minutes before kick-off at 7:45 PM BST.
Written for “France Turkey Nations League Match” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 9 other(s) covering the same event.
Al Jazeera Sport will have all the build-up from 15:45 GMT.
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Sport → have → GMT
Zinedine Zidane was asked if taking charge of his first France game on Friday will feel just as special as his playing debut for Les Bleus more than 30 years ago.
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taking → ask → Bleus
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Coast → eye → path
“Even more so, maybe,” a smiling Zidane said on Thursday ahead of a Nations League game in Turkiye.
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Zidane → smile → Turkiye
“I feel an immense emotion being at the head of this France team.”
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I → feel → team
Zidane’s dream was realised when he replaced Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup.
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he → realise → Cup
His former teammate Deschamps was in charge for 14 years, winning the World Cup in 2018 and losing the 2022 final.
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teammate → win → final
Now it’s Zidane’s chance to make his mark on a team he once starred for.
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he → ’ → team
Affectionately nicknamed “Zizou”, his face was beamed onto the Arc de Triomphe in Paris the night France celebrated its first World Cup triumph in 1998.
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France → nickname → 1998
Zidane scored two headers in the final in a 3-0 win over Brazil and later that year he won the Ballon d’Or.
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he → score → d’Or
Two years later, he was instrumental in France winning the European Championship.
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France → win → Championship
His rise to the top seemed almost fated, for his international career began brilliantly in 1994 with two stunning goals against the Czech Republic after coming on as a substitute.
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career → seem → substitute
He then won league titles with Juventus and Real Madrid and scored a brilliant volley to help Madrid win the Champions League in 2002.
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Madrid → win → 2002
Zidane understands expectations are high, given his achievements as a player and how he led Real Madrid to three straight Champions League titles as a coach.
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he → understand → coach
“It’s something new.
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It → ’ → ?
I’m taking over as head coach so people are talking about it,” he said.
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he → take → it
“That makes sense.”
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That → make → sense
After facing Turkiye, France plays Belgium away on Monday before hosting Italy on October 2, and Belgium three days later, with both those games at the Stade de France.
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France → face → France
Mbappe given all clear for France’s trip to Turkiye
France’s all-time top scorer Kylian Mbappe is set to captain the side, having shrugged off a minor injury.
Zidane was asked why, given that Mbappe is captain, he was not present at Thursday’s pre-match news conference.
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he → give → conference
Instead, it was midfielder Adrien Rabiot who spoke to the media.
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who → speak → media
“The obligation is to have one player and the coach,” Zidane said.
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Zidane → have → player
He will be ready to play tomorrow.”
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He → play → ?
Rabiot said the huge attention placed on Zidane gave the players a welcome back seat.
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attention → say → seat
“His aura means he commands a lot of attention,” Rabiot said.
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Rabiot → mean → attention
“In a way, it’s a good thing that the focus is more on the coach than the players.
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focus → ’ → players
It gives them a bit more peace and quiet.”
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It → give → peace
Zidane understands the limelight but does not seek it.
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Zidane → understand → it
“You have to accept how things are.
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things → have → ?
But I’m not here for that,” he said.
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he → ’m → that
“Winning matches is what interests me the most.”
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what → win → me
What happened the last time Turkiye played France?
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Turkiye → happen → France
The sides shared a 1-1 draw in Paris in 2019 in a qualifier for Euro 2020.
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sides → share → Euro
Olivier Giroud gave the home side the lead in the 76th minute before Kaan Ayhan levelled for Turkiye five minutes later.
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Ayhan → give → Turkiye
Head-to-head
This will be the seventh meeting between the nations, with France claiming four wins to Turkiye’s one in the previous encounters.
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France → claim → encounters
Turkiye predicted starting lineup
Cakir; Celik, Demiral, Bardakci, Elmali; Ozcan, Kokcu, Yuksek; Guler, Yilmaz, Akturkoglu
France team news
Zidane can choose from six new faces in his squad.
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Zidane → predict → squad
Striker Esteban Lepaul (Rennes), defenders Leny Yoro (Manchester United) and Jeremy Jacquet (Liverpool), midfielder Lucas Da Cunha (Como), Andy Diouf (Inter Milan) and Guillaume Restes (Toulouse) are set for their debuts.
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Lepaul → set → debuts
“I’m happy with what I’ve seen so far.
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I → ’m → what
The French team is open to everyone,” Zidane said.
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Zidane → say → everyone
“We’ve got a good squad, some veterans, some newcomers.”
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We → get → squad
France predicted starting lineup
Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Lacroix, Truffert; Camavinga, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe
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France → predict → Maignan
The Aporia
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