Zinedine Zidane kicked off his tenure as the head coach of the French National Team with a narrow victory of 1-0 over Turkey in the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League. Kylian Mbappe’s goal in the 54th minute made all the difference during the match held at Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, early on September 26, 2026. Despite having numerous chances to score additional goals, France was only able to convert one. Michael Olise almost put them ahead in the first half, while Jules Kounde had a close opportunity to double the score after the break.
Zidane played a pivotal role in maintaining the composure of his squad. After a scoreless first half, he instructed the players to adhere to their tactical plans and reassured them that opportunities would arise as the match went on.
Zidane Encourages Calmness and Strategic Play
During the first half, France dominated possession but struggled to dismantle Turkey’s solid defense. Olise fired a curving shot that was expertly saved by goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir. Turkey also posed threats after the halftime break. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan had to exert great effort to block Ismail Yuksek’s chance before Mbappe finally broke the deadlock in the 54th minute.
Jules Kounde spoke highly of Zidane’s demeanor during the halftime break, noting that the coach encouraged the players to continue pushing forward. “At halftime, ZZ was very calm. He asked us to keep playing. We knew we could find space because they would tire,” Kounde stated.
Smart Adjustments and Tactical Freedom
Esteban Lepaul made his debut for the French national team in this match. The player revealed that Zidane made crucial adjustments after the first half while also allowing the players the freedom to make decisions. “In the first half, Zinedine Zidane modified a few details, but the most important thing was that he allowed the players to take responsibility,” Lepaul shared with TF1.
This approach became evident after halftime as France ramped up the pressure. The players’ movements in the front line opened up Turkey’s defense, allowing Olise to assist Mbappe for his 67th goal with the national team. Unfortunately, Mbappe had to exit the game due to physical issues, which slightly overshadowed Zidane’s first victory; despite this, France managed to hold onto their lead.
Ousmane Dembele expressed that France played well overall. He acknowledged that the team could have added one or two more goals but understood that facing Turkey wouldn’t be straightforward. “We had a very good game overall. We could score one or two more goals, but we knew this match wouldn’t be easy. We prepared very well throughout the week, and we are pleased,” Dembele commented.
Kounde also viewed the win as essential for enhancing momentum heading into the next game. He remarked that France needs to develop its play gradually under Zidane’s leadership. The French team ultimately maintained their 1-0 advantage until the final whistle. A red card for Cakir towards the end further solidified Les Bleus’ position after Turkey had been aggressively searching for an equalizer.
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