The Aporia
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.