Turkey vs France: Zidane's debut and Turkey's quest for recovery

On the afternoon of September 25, Turkey and France face each other in the opening round of Group 1 in League A of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League. The match marks the debut of Zinédine Zidane as head coach of the French national team and represents an opportunity for Turkey to restart following its early elimination from the World Cup.

Zidane's debut at the helm of France

Zidane, who left Real Madrid in 2021, waits more than five years to manage his first match as coach of the French national team. The match against Turkey officially begins his challenge, replacing Didier Deschamps, who left the position after the World Cup.

Turkey seeks a fresh start after the World Cup

Vincenzo Montella, Turkey's coach since 2023, remains in charge and tries to erase the team's failure at the World Cup, where the national team finished at the bottom of Group D. The coach relies on the home advantage and dynamic football to get off to a good start in the Nations League.

Confirmed lineups

For Turkey, the probable formation includes Cakir; Celik, Demiral, Bardakci, and Elmli; Ozcan, Kokcu, and Yuksek; Guler, Yilmaz, and Akturkoglu, under Montella's command. For France, the expected lineup features Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Lacroix, and Truffert; Camavinga and Rabiot; Dembelé, Olise, Doué, and Mbappé, with Zidane in charge. Absences for France include center-back Saliba, defensive midfielder Tchouaméni, and Konaté, while Çalhanoğlu and Yildiz sit out for Turkey.

Where to watch live

The game will be broadcast live on the pay-TV channel ESPN and the streaming service Disney+. In Brazil, the match will be shown on Sportv.

Expectations for the duel

France enters as the favorite to secure victory in the new Nations League cycle, while Turkey looks to pull off an upset at home and pick up important points.

With information from ge, Terra.