Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal — then left the pitch injured — as Zinédine Zidane began his France tenure with a 1-0 UEFA Nations League win away to Türkiye in Kocaeli.
Match facts
- Result: Türkiye 0-1 France (HT 0-0)
- Competition: UEFA Nations League 2026/27 — League A Group 1
- Venue: Turka Araç Muayene Kocaeli Stadyumu, İzmit
- Scorers: Mbappé 54' (assist Olise)
- Red cards: Uğurcan Çakır (Türkiye) 87' — handball outside the box
- Next: Belgium vs France; Türkiye vs Italy (Mon 28 Sep 2026)
How the match unfolded
Zidane's first senior assignment outside Real Madrid opened on a tense League A Group 1 night under Vincenzo Montella's Türkiye. France dominated possession (about 64% on BBC match stats) but the first half stayed goalless. Arda Güler was booked late in the half as Türkiye tried to break up French rhythm without creating a clear breakthrough.
The decisive moment came in the 54th minute. Michael Olise picked out Mbappé in space and the Real Madrid captain hammered a shot into the bottom corner — his 67th goal for France, extending his national scoring record. Celebration turned at once to concern: Mbappé was limping and could not continue. Désiré Doué replaced him in the 59th minute.
Les Bleus kept hunting a second. Jules Koundé struck the post as France tried to kill the contest. Dayot Upamecano was booked as the game grew scrappy. Türkiye introduced Kerem Aktürkoğlu and others after the hour, but clear chances remained scarce.
Türkiye's night worsened in the 87th minute when goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır was shown a straight red card for handling the ball outside his penalty area. Altay Bayındır came on for Barış Alper Yılmaz as Montella reshuffled to cover the dismissal, with Ismail Yüksek also withdrawn. Eight minutes of stoppage time were signalled. Ousmane Dembélé forced a save from Bayındır from outside the box, and late fouls brought yellow cards for Manu Koné and substitute Estéban Lepaul, but Türkiye could not force an equaliser.
France closed out a hard-earned opening win. Ibrahima Konaté had already left the France camp earlier in the week with a knee issue later diagnosed by Real Madrid as a collateral ligament injury, with Leny Yoro called up — covered in BetAlert's Konaté and Yoro squad update.
What it means
France sit second in League A Group 1 on goal difference behind Belgium, who beat Italy 2-0 on the same night. Türkiye are third with no points after matchday one. Both return quickly: Belgium host France and Türkiye face Italy on Monday 28 September.
Reaction and outlook
Zidane leaves Kocaeli with three points and a first competitive win as France coach, tempered by Mbappé's early exit after the goal. France will assess the captain's knee before the Belgium fixture. Türkiye must regroup for Italy without Çakır under UEFA's red-card suspension rules and find a way to break down another Group 1 favourite after a disciplined but goalless home display.