In İzmit, on the Turkish shore of the Sea of Marmara, Zinedine Zidane begins his France reign on Thursday with a Nations League test against Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey. His first selection sets out a clear 4-3-3, with Kylian Mbappé leading a forward line also featuring Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise.
Key takeaways
- Zidane takes charge of France for the first time in the opening round of Nations League League A Group 1.
- Maxence Lacroix comes into central defence after Real Madrid’s Ibrahima Konaté was ruled out injured.
- Adrien Truffert has been chosen at left-back, while Barcelona defender Jules Koundé starts on the opposite side.
- Mbappé begins on the left wing, Dembélé occupies the central attacking role and Olise starts from the right.
- Turkey, managed by Montella, will have Arda Güler among their leading figures for the home fixture.
Zidane’s first France line-up
The new France coach has paired Lacroix with Dayot Upamecano at the centre of the defence. Lacroix replaces Konaté, whose injury has forced a change before Zidane’s first match in charge.
The full-back choices see Koundé on the right and Truffert on the left. Truffert’s inclusion settles one of the principal questions around the new coach’s opening team, with Andy Diouf not selected for that position.
Mike Maignan starts in goal behind the back four. In midfield, Rayan Cherki, Manu Koné and Adrien Rabiot form the central trio.
France’s team for Turkey
Zidane’s first XI is built around a familiar collection of European club football’s leading names, but it arrives at the start of a new international chapter after Didier Deschamps’ departure.
- Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan
- Defenders: Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, Maxence Lacroix, Adrien Truffert
- Midfielders: Rayan Cherki, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot
- Forwards: Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé
France’s attacking arrangement places Mbappé on the left, with Dembélé through the middle and Olise operating from the right. The match is the first Group 1 fixture in League A of the Nations League, giving Zidane an immediate away assignment against a Turkey side carrying the expectation of its İzmit crowd.
