Turkey vs France: Zidane Begins France Reign in Nations League Opener

Izmit hosts a meeting shaped by two very different kinds of reset on Friday, when Turkey welcome France to Kocaeli Stadium for the opening matchday of Nations League A Group 1. It will be Zinedine Zidane’s first game as France coach, while Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey are attempting to recover from a bitter World Cup exit.

The match is scheduled for 25 September, with kick-off at 15:45 Brasília time, and will be shown on sportv.

Zidane begins a long-awaited France chapter

More than five years after his last match in charge of Real Madrid, Zidane takes over the two-time world champions following Didier Deschamps’ departure after the World Cup. Deschamps had led France for 14 years, and Zidane had long been viewed as the leading candidate to succeed him.

France’s new coach must begin without several established internationals. William Saliba was not called up because of injury, while Aurélien Tchouaméni is also absent after physical problems early in the season. Ibrahima Konaté has since withdrawn from the squad with a knee issue.

Mike Maignan is expected to start in goal, with Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, Maxence Lacroix and Adrien Truffert making up the likely defence. Eduardo Camavinga and Adrien Rabiot could form the midfield base behind an attacking group featuring Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué and Kylian Mbappé.

Turkey seek a response after World Cup disappointment

Montella remains in charge of Turkey, having held the post since 2023, but his side arrive under pressure after failing to progress from the World Cup group stage. Turkey finished bottom of Group D despite beating the United States, with defeats to Paraguay and Australia ending a campaign that had begun amid high expectations.

The hosts will also be missing important creative figures, with Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Kenan Yıldız unavailable.

Uğurcan Çakır is expected to start behind a back four of Zeki Çelik, Merih Demiral, Abdülkerim Bardakcı and Eren Elmalı. In midfield, Salih Özcan, Orkun Kökçü and İsmail Yüksek are in line to play, while Arda Güler, Burak Yılmaz and Kerem Aktürkoğlu could lead the Turkish attack.

Likely line-ups