Zinedine Zidane will take charge of France for the first time when the 2026 World Cup semi-finalists visit Turkey in the UEFA Nations League on Friday evening.
France are starting a new era after Didier Deschamps’ long tenure ended, while Turkey are also looking to recover from a disappointing World Cup campaign. The hosts were eliminated in the group stage after defeats by Austria and Paraguay, although they ended the tournament with a win against the United States.
It was Turkey’s first appearance at a World Cup since 2002. Vincenzo Montella’s side now face France, Italy and Belgium in Group 1 of League A.
Turkey’s overall Nations League record is 11 wins, six draws and seven defeats. They were competing in League C in 2022-23 before returning to League B for the 2024-25 edition.
After hosting France, Turkey will welcome Italy before the end of the month. Their October fixtures will take them to Belgium before another meeting with Italy.
France won the Nations League in 2020-21, beating Spain in the final, but finished third in 2024-25, when Portugal lifted the trophy.
The two sides have met six times, with Turkey winning only once: a 2-0 success in a Euro qualifying match in June 2019. Their most recent meeting ended 1-1 in October 2019, while France’s last victory in the fixture came in June 2009.
France entered the 2026 World Cup as favourites but lost to eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals before suffering a 6-4 defeat by England in the third-place play-off. They therefore arrive in Turkey after two successive losses.
Zidane’s team will then travel to Belgium, before hosting Italy on 2 October and Belgium on 5 October.
Turkey are without Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Y?ld?z because of injury, but Real Madrid forward Arda Guler is available and expected to start. Bar?s Y?lmaz could lead the attack, with Kerem Akturkoglu also in contention for a place in the front three. Salih Ozcan may replace Calhanoglu in midfield, while Merih Demiral is expected to feature in defence.
France will be without William Saliba and Aurelien Tchouameni. Ibrahima Konate has also withdrawn from the squad and has been replaced by Leny Yoro.
Eduardo Camavinga could start in midfield, while Bournemouth defender Adrien Truffert may earn his second cap at left-back. Kylian Mbappe, who has scored 66 goals for France, is expected to lead an attacking line that could also include Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue.
Turkey form: W, W, W, L, L, W France form: W, W, W, W, L, L
Predictions: France to win and more than 2.5 goals at 1.78; France to win and Kylian Mbappe to score at 1.88; Michael Olise to score or assist at 1.65.
Probable Turkey XI: Cak?r; Celik, Demiral, Bardakc?, Elmal?; Ozcan, Kokcu, Yuksek; Guler, Y?lmaz, Akturkoglu.
Probable France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Lacroix, Truffert; Camavinga, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe.
Turkey are capable of making the match difficult, but France’s attacking quality should be enough to secure three points in a closely contested game.