Zinedine Zidane officially begins his tenure as head coach of France on Friday, September 25, when his side faces Turkiye in the UEFA Nations League. The match, scheduled for a 9:45pm (18:45 GMT) kickoff at Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, marks the start of a new era for Les Bleus following Zidane’s appointment after the 2026 World Cup. His face was beamed onto the Arc de Triomphe in Paris the night France celebrated its first World Cup triumph in 1998, affectionately nicknamed “Zizou”. I’m taking over as head coach so people are talking about it,” he said. “That makes sense.”. Mbappe given all clear for France’s trip to Turkiye.
Reflecting on the milestone, the legendary former player admitted the occasion carries deep personal weight. Asked if this debut feels as significant as his international playing start more than 30 years ago, a smiling Zidane told reporters on Thursday, “Even more so, maybe. I feel an immense emotion being at the head of this France team.” He succeeds his former teammate Didier Deschamps, who held the post for 14 years, securing a World Cup trophy in 2018 and reaching the 2022 final. Now it’s Zidane’s chance to make his mark on a team he once starred for. For his international career began brilliantly in 1994 with two stunning goals against the Czech Republic after coming on as a substitute, his rise to the top seemed almost fated.
France’s captain, Kylian Mbappe, is expected to feature after overcoming a minor injury. While Zidane noted that team obligations required a player to attend the pre-match conference alongside him, midfielder Adrien Rabiot joined the coach instead. Rabiot, one of the vice-captains alongside Ousmane Dembele and Jules Kounde, observed that the massive media focus on Zidane serves to shield the squad. “His aura means he commands a lot of attention,” Rabiot remarked. “In a way, it’s a good thing that the focus is more on the coach than the players. It gives them a bit more peace and quiet.”
Zidane acknowledged the intense spotlight but emphasized his primary objective. “You have to accept how things are. But I’m not here for that. Winning matches is what interests me the most,” he stated. The manager has called up six potential debutants, including defenders Leny Yoro and Jeremy Jacquet, striker Esteban Lepaul, and midfielders Lucas Da Cunha, Andy Diouf, and Guillaume Restes. “The French team is open to everyone,” Zidane noted of the blend between veterans and new talent. “We’ve got a good squad.”
Turkiye faces personnel challenges for the home fixture, missing Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz due to injuries, though Real Madrid’s Arda Guler is confirmed available. Historically, the matchup leans toward France, which has recorded four victories in their seven previous meetings compared to Turkiye’s single win. The last encounter between the two sides resulted in a 1-1 draw during the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, featuring a 76th-minute goal from Olivier Giroud that was countered by Kaan Ayhan just five minutes later. Zidane scored two headers in the final in a 3-0 win over Brazil and later that year he won the Ballon d’Or. He then won league titles with Juventus and Real Madrid and scored a brilliant volley to help Madrid win the Champions League in 2002.
Looking ahead, France will travel to face Belgium on Monday, followed by home games at the Stade de France against Italy on October 2 and Belgium three days later. Sport will begin its coverage of the build-up for the match in Turkiye starting at 15:45 GMT.
Comments