Zidane Wins France Debut as Mbappé Scores Then Limps Off With Knee Injury in Türkiye
Kylian Mbappé's 54th-minute goal gave Zinedine Zidane a 1-0 win in his first match as France coach, but the captain's knee injury clouds the celebration.
Zinedine Zidane's first match as France head coach ended in victory on Friday night, but it came at a cost. Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal as France beat Türkiye 1-0 in their UEFA Nations League League A opener at the Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, and then had to leave the pitch with a knee problem.
The match kicked off late on Friday European time, which was the early hours of Saturday in Malaysia.
The winning goal
France broke through in the 54th minute. According to Sports Illustrated's analysis, Ousmane Dembélé's pressing forced a turnover, and Michael Olise found a wide-open Mbappé on the left, who finished for what Goal reported as his 67th international goal.
But Mbappé hurt himself in the act of shooting. Zidane said afterwards that his captain "overextended his knee while shooting", Malay Mail reported, and the Real Madrid forward was withdrawn.
Türkiye's hopes of a comeback were further dented late on when goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakır was sent off for handling the ball outside his area to deny Bradley Barcola a scoring chance.
Mbappé likely heading home
The bigger news for France is the fitness of their captain. Zidane did not hide his concern. "It's not great. Unfortunately I think he's going to have to go home," he said, suggesting Mbappé will miss France's remaining Nations League fixtures during this international window.
A familiar shape with a few tweaks
Zidane, appointed in late July as Didier Deschamps' successor, did not rip up the blueprint. Sports Illustrated noted he largely kept Deschamps' system, with the midfield pivot of Adrien Rabiot and Manu Koné. The changes came further forward:
- Mbappé returned to his preferred left-wing role
- Rayan Cherki started as the attacking midfielder
- Ousmane Dembélé led the line centrally
The same analysis described France's attack as sluggish for long spells against a well-organised Turkish defence, so there is clearly work to do.
"A lot of emotion"
Zidane admitted the occasion meant a lot to him. "There is a lot of emotion. It's a first, and starting with a victory is never easy, especially here in Turkey," he said, as reported by Goal.
He also spoke about how he wants his team to play: "Balance is the key to everything. We have players capable of making a difference at any time, but we must maintain a solid collective organization."
Goal reported that Zidane is the first France coach to win his debut match since Aimé Jacquet in 1994.
What's next
France travel to Brussels to face Belgium on Monday, very likely without Mbappé. Belgium arrive in good form after winning 2-0 away to Italy on Friday under new coach Mark van Bommel. Malaysian viewers should expect a late-night or early-morning kick-off.
Key takeaways
- France beat Türkiye 1-0 in Izmit in Zinedine Zidane's first match in charge.
- Kylian Mbappé scored in the 54th minute but injured his knee while shooting.
- Zidane said Mbappé will probably have to go home and miss the rest of the window.
- Türkiye keeper Ugurcan Çakır was sent off late for handball outside the box.
- France face Belgium in Brussels on Monday.
FAQ
Who scored in Türkiye vs France? Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal in the 54th minute.
How serious is Mbappé's injury? Zidane said Mbappé overextended his knee while shooting and will likely go home. Further medical details had not been confirmed.
Who do France play next? France face Belgium in Brussels on Monday in UEFA Nations League League A.
Sources: Malay Mail, Goal, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports