Under the lights in Turkey on Friday night, Zinédine Zidane is set to begin his France reign with a team selection that has already found broad support among supporters.
The Ligue 1 news
France will face Turkey in the Nations League at 20:45 on Friday, in Zidane’s first match as head coach of Les Bleus. A supporters’ vote on the proposed 4-3-3 produced the same starting XI expected to be selected by the 54-year-old.
Mike Maignan is the clear choice in goal, collecting 89.73% of the vote. The AC Milan goalkeeper finished well ahead of Jean Butez, on 6.08%, and Guillaume Restes, who received 4.19%.
The closest defensive call came at left-back. Adrien Truffert took 56.91% support, ahead of Andy Diouf on 43.09%. Dayot Upamecano was almost unanimously selected at centre-back with 96.62%, while Maxence Lacroix won the second central-defensive place on 43.73%.
Jérémy Jacquet received 33.44% in that contest and Leny Yoro 26.13%. On the right of the defence, Jules Koundé was preferred to Pierre Kalulu, with 59.71% against 40.29%.
The midfield trio expected to start is Adrien Rabiot, Manu Koné and Rayan Cherki. Rabiot drew 89.19% of the vote, Koné 80.75% and Cherki 75.24%, putting them comfortably ahead of Lucas Da Cunha, on 34.29%, and Eduardo Camavinga, on 20.51%.
Zidane appears ready to use Kylian Mbappé from the left, a role supported by 78.29% of voters. Désiré Doué gained 11.96% in the position and Bradley Barcola 9.75%.
Ousmane Dembélé is expected through the middle, having taken 63.99% of support ahead of Estéban Lepaul at 18.21% and Mbappé at 17.80%. Michael Olise looks equally secure on the right wing, polling 86.52%, with Dembélé on 9.96%, Doué on 2.80% and Maghnes Akliouche on 0.72%.
The next appointment in France
France’s first test under Zidane comes away to Turkey on Friday at 20:45 in the Nations League, with the anticipated line-up set to be Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Lacroix, Truffert; Rabiot, Koné, Cherki; Olise, Dembélé and Mbappé.
