The first whistle in Izmit will carry the weight of a new French era. Zinédine Zidane takes charge of France for the first time on Friday, when Les Bleus face Turkey in their opening Nations League fixture at 20:45.
Appointed during the summer to replace Didier Deschamps, Zidane begins a job he had long appeared to be waiting for. France enter the match after 14 years under Deschamps, with expectations high around a coach whose return to management has been anticipated since he left Real Madrid in 2021.
Quick facts
- Zidane’s first France match is against Turkey in Izmit on Friday at 20:45.
- The game opens France’s Nations League campaign.
- He succeeds Didier Deschamps after the previous coach’s 14-year spell.
- Zidane has not coached for five years since leaving Real Madrid.
- His first selection includes tactical and personnel changes, including Kylian Mbappé on the left and Rayan Cherki in a three-man midfield.
Christophe Dugarry, Zidane’s former Bordeaux and France team-mate, believes the first signs of change are already visible. He said Zidane’s selection and his intended work on the pitch point to “a small revolution” around the national side.
Dugarry expects a different footballing identity from the former World Cup winner, citing Zidane’s strong ideas and a game culture shaped by Spain. He said the new coach wants to impose his own approach rather than continue the methods of his predecessor.
Zidane has been repeatedly linked with major coaching posts since his successful time at Real Madrid, but Dugarry said he turned down every opportunity because the France role was the one he wanted. For the 1998 world champion, taking over Les Bleus represents a childhood ambition fulfilled.
Dugarry said Zidane’s happiness has been obvious in interviews and on the training ground. The former midfielder, he added, had waited for the international job with unusual patience despite receiving numerous offers.
Early selection signals
France will need time before Zidane’s full style can be judged, Dugarry warned. But he sees meaningful decisions in the new coach’s first squad and proposed shape.
Mbappé’s return to the left flank is one of them. Another is Cherki’s use in a midfield three, a move Dugarry believes could give France greater technical quality in the centre of the pitch.
The turnover has also been substantial. Zidane is looking for full-backs and has moved on from players including Lucas Hernandez and Lucas Digne, while bringing in several younger footballers without previous senior France experience.
Deschamps had often relied on a settled core and stood by established figures through difficult periods. Zidane has immediately taken a more disruptive route, both in selection and in tactical intent.
Dugarry said Zidane has already proved himself as both a player and club coach, but now faces a demanding final test. France’s new manager knows the scrutiny will be intense; Turkey on Friday is the first examination of a project already carrying enormous expectation.
