France began Zinédine Zidane’s reign with a narrow but significant 1-0 win over Turkey in Izmit on Friday night, as Kylian Mbappé delivered the decisive moment before leaving the pitch with a left-knee problem.
The opening match of the 2027 Nations League gave Zidane a winning start as France coach, although the margin was slender against a committed Turkish side. Mbappé broke the deadlock nine minutes after the interval, striking right-footed in the 54th minute.
The France captain appeared to hurt his left knee while scoring and was unable to continue. He was replaced five minutes later by Désiré Doué, leaving Zidane’s first evening in charge with an immediate fitness concern despite the result.
Mbappé goal separates the sides
France had to work for their first three points of the campaign, with the match remaining in the balance deep into the second half. Mbappé’s finish proved enough, but Turkey retained hope until the closing stages.
That hope was damaged in the 87th minute when Turkish goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakir was sent off. Çakir handled the ball outside his area as he came out to challenge Bradley Barcola, earning a late red card.
Maignan holds firm on Zidane debut
Mike Maignan played an important role in preserving France’s lead, producing a strong display in goal when required. His assurance helped the visitors leave Izmit with a clean sheet on a night defined by control rather than fluency.
Adrien Truffert, selected at left-back, endured a less convincing outing, while France as a whole did not find a comfortable rhythm for long periods.
Still, the key fact for Zidane is a victorious beginning. His first match as France manager ended with Mbappé on the scoresheet, Maignan unbeaten and the Bleus underway in the 2027 Nations League.
