In Izmit, on the industrial shore of the Sea of Marmara, Zinedine Zidane begins the assignment he had long appeared to be waiting for: leading France. The former Real Madrid coach takes charge of Les Bleus for the first time on Friday against Turkey in the opening round of the Nations League, succeeding Didier Deschamps after 14 years in the role.
Zidane said the occasion carries an emotion greater even than his first appearance as a France player, which came on 17 August 1994. “It is an immense feeling, even stronger than when I made my debut for the national team as a player,” he said.
His arrival ends a lengthy pause from coaching. Zidane’s last match in charge of Real Madrid was on 22 May 2021, and he did not take another job despite opportunities elsewhere, keeping France in mind should Deschamps eventually leave.
A side recovering from World Cup disappointment
Deschamps leaves a formidable record, having guided France to the 2018 World Cup title, the runners-up position in 2022 and fourth place in 2026. Yet Zidane inherits a group still marked by its most recent World Cup, where France arrived among the leading contenders but were beaten 2-0 by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.
The new coach accepted that curiosity over his version of the side will be intense, while insisting that the attention should remain on the squad. “The players are the main figures,” Zidane said.
Kylian Mbappé is expected to be available in Turkey after missing Tuesday’s work with flu-like symptoms and returning to normal training on Wednesday. Zidane described the issue as a minor setback and said the forward would be ready to play.
There has been one enforced alteration in defence. Ibrahima Konaté has withdrawn from the camp through injury, with Leny Yoro called in as his replacement.
Turkey provide the first test
Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey did not advance beyond the World Cup group stage, but will look to turn a home Nations League night into an uncomfortable opening examination for one of France’s most celebrated football figures.
The calendar will offer Zidane little time to settle. After Turkey, France travel to Belgium on Monday, host Italy on the 2nd and face Belgium again on the 5th. The first step comes in Kocaeli, where a new France era begins under the man who once wore the blue shirt as its most influential player.
