France found the narrow margin they needed against Turkey, Kylian Mbappé scoring the only goal before leaving injured as Zinedine Zidane’s side held on for a 1-0 win and their first clean sheet under the new coach.
It was not the flowing, fully controlled performance Zidane wants to build, but France had enough defensive resolve and one decisive moment of quality. Mike Maignan made key saves after the interval, while Mbappé struck his 67th international goal in the 54th minute from Michael Olise’s delivery.
Mbappé goal settles a difficult evening
France began with Maignan tested early. He stopped Yilmaz in the fourth minute, although the Turkish forward was subsequently flagged offside, then dealt comfortably with an effort from Kadioglu.
Olise was behind much of France’s danger. His passing created openings in the 17th and 41st minutes, while he also tried his luck himself shortly before the break. Ousmane Dembélé supplied Cherki with a promising chance in the 41st minute, but the midfielder could not make it count. Adrien Rabiot also failed to properly connect with a shot in the 44th minute.
Mbappé had endured a difficult start on the left of the front line, misplacing passes and sending a 17th-minute attempt wide. Often isolated, the captain nevertheless made the breakthrough nine minutes into the second half, firing home sharply after Olise’s assist.
The goal eased the pressure but did not entirely settle the contest. Mbappé was forced off injured around the hour mark, with Désiré Doué taking his place. France then had to withstand a more forceful Turkish finish.
Maignan and the defence protect the lead
Maignan produced major interventions in the 51st and 76th minutes to deny Turkey an equaliser. In front of him, Dayot Upamecano again carried authority at the centre of the defence, alert during Turkey’s limited first-half advances and important when the visitors stepped up their pressure.
Upamecano did, however, give the ball away on a couple of occasions late in the game, notably in the 76th and 94th minutes, moments that could have proved costly. Maxence Lacroix also had some uncomfortable early passes on a difficult pitch, but became valuable in the air and with several clearances near the end.
Jules Koundé regularly looked to overlap on the right and continued to develop his understanding with Olise. He almost added a second goal when a curling 69th-minute effort struck the post, after Cherki had slipped him a clever pass. Koundé also defended bravely during the closing stages.
On the opposite flank, Adrien Truffert offered options going forward in only his second France appearance, coming exactly four years after his first cap against Denmark on 29 September 2022. The Bournemouth defender did not, however, completely remove the questions surrounding the left-back role.
Koné strengthens his place as Zidane adjusts
Manu Koné was among France’s most influential players in the opening period from the holding midfield role. He won possession, covered ground and brought intensity to the contest, though Turkey’s improved second half made his task more demanding. His place in the starting team is becoming increasingly difficult to challenge.
Rabiot was tidy in possession and useful without the ball, but had too little influence on France’s attacking rhythm. Cherki, deployed in midfield in one of the more notable decisions in Zidane’s selection, tried to raise the tempo through combinations without consistently succeeding.
Cherki should have been more clinical with his first-half opening and gave Turkey a dangerous free-kick when he fouled Arda Güler in the 50th minute. He was replaced by Eduardo Camavinga, returning to the France squad for the first time in six months.
Zidane made his first planned changes in the 73rd minute, bringing on Camavinga and Bradley Barcola for Cherki and Olise. Barcola later helped create the incident that led to the Turkish goalkeeper being sent off late on. Esteban Lepaul was introduced in the 90th minute to make his senior international debut after replacing Dembélé.
Dembélé had received limited service in his usual club role and did not make enough impact in possession, although his pressing contributed to the move that ended with Mbappé’s goal.
Zidane remains demanding on the touchline
Zidane stayed on his feet throughout, applauding encouraging passages, issuing instructions when standards slipped and showing his frustration at missed opportunities. France produced several encouraging sequences, yet the performance also underlined that the coach’s ambition for a side driven by its football will require time.
The result, however, delivered two immediate gains: a clean sheet for Maignan and a victory secured despite Mbappé’s injury-enforced departure.
