Zidane gets winning start as France beat Turkey, but Mbappe goes off injured
Zinedine Zidane’s first match in charge of the French national team ended in a 1‑0 victory over Turkey in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday night in Istanbul, with Kylian Mbappé scoring the decisive goal before leaving…
Source: Malay Mail · September 26, 2026 at 9:02 PM · AI-assisted report
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ISTANBUL, 27 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
Zinedine Zidane’s first match in charge of the French national team ended in a 1‑0 victory over Turkey in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday night in Istanbul, with Kylian Mbappé scoring the decisive goal before leaving the field with a knee injury.
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The win puts France at the top of Group A1 and gives the new manager a perfect start, a feat none of his five predecessors achieved in their inaugural matches. Mbappé’s strike, his 12th for France, arrived in the 54th minute and proved to be the only goal of the contest.
France dominated possession from the outset but found the Turkish defence difficult to breach. Turkey’s early threat came four minutes in when Barış Alper Yılmaz received a long ball, only to be denied by French goalkeeper Mike Maignan. A subsequent chance for Turkey was a looping header from Ferdi Kadıoğlu that was saved comfortably by Maignan.
In the first half, Michael Olise forced a stretching save from Turkey’s goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakır, while Rayan Cherki’s low shot was blocked by defender Merih Demiral. Maignan also turned away a close‑range effort from Can Uzun after a belated off‑side flag was raised.
The second half began slowly for France, with Turkey nearly taking the lead in the 50th minute when Ismail Yüksek’s diving header from an Arda Güler corner was pushed over the crossbar by Maignan. Four minutes later, a defensive lapse allowed Olise to switch the ball to Mbappé, who drilled the ball past Çakır from the left side of the box. Mbappé immediately pulled up, indicating injury, and was substituted after five minutes of play.
Desire Doué, who replaced Mbappé, saw a long‑range curler pushed away, and Jules Koundé struck the left post after a set‑piece, but France could not extend the lead. Turkey continued to press, with Maignan making another save to deny Güler’s near‑post attempt. The match’s final drama unfolded in the 87th minute when Çakır rushed out of his area to smother Bradley Barcola’s run and handled the ball outside the box, earning a red card.
France’s victory came despite the loss of their captain and top scorer. Mbappé, who has scored 67 international goals, left the pitch after receiving medical attention, appearing uncomfortable but having secured the win for his side. The French side held on for the remainder of the game, maintaining possession and limiting Turkey’s chances.
The result places Les Bleus in the driving seat of Group A1 as they begin their quest for a second Nations League title, following a fourth‑place finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Turkey, who defended resolutely and created several chances, were left to rue missed opportunities and the dismissal of Çakır, which effectively ended any hope of a comeback.
The match, reported by Malay Mail and corroborated by FotMob, Flashscore UK and Yahoo Sports, marks a significant moment for French football, signalling a new era under Zidane and highlighting the impact of Mbappé’s injury on the team’s attacking options moving forward.
Related: Istanbul