SoccerSep 26
Mbappé injury overshadows France win in Zidane's debut
Kylian Mbappé scored the winner against Türkiye but will leave the France camp after the federation confirmed a tendon injury.
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Winner comes at a cost
France opened Zinedine Zidane’s tenure with a 1-0 Nations League victory in Türkiye on Friday, but the result was overshadowed by an injury to Kylian Mbappé. The forward struck in the 55th minute, driving a low effort home after Michael Olise supplied the setup. His France record rose to 67 goals, yet the celebration quickly gave way to concern as he sat down and rubbed his left knee. No opponent appeared to be involved in the incident. Mbappé received treatment and briefly resumed playing before going down again. Désiré Doué replaced him, with the Real Madrid attacker able to leave the field unaided. The French Football Federation confirmed a tendon injury that rules Mbappé out for the remainder of the camp. Zidane indicated that the knee had extended during the shot and that France would not take risks with his fitness.
France hold firm in uneven contest
Zidane started Mbappé on the left and Olise on the right, alongside Ousmane Dembélé and Rayan Cherki in attack. Both teams struggled with misplaced passes during a scrappy opening on a bumpy surface in İzmit. Olise tested Uğurcan Çakır with a dipping strike before halftime, while Adrien Rabiot sent an opportunity over. At the other end, Mike Maignan produced a one-handed save to deny İsmail Yüksek’s downward header. Türkiye lost Çakır in the 87th minute when he was dismissed for handling Bradley Barcola’s shot outside the penalty area. Despite the injury setback, Zidane welcomed France’s collective effort and balance when possession was lost. France still face three Nations League fixtures during this window, with two meetings against Belgium either side of a match against Italy.
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