Turkiye Takes on France in Nations League Showdown: Key Predictions, Lineups, and What to Expect

France faces its first match under new head coach Zinedine Zidane as they take on Türkiye in their UEFA Nations League opener this Friday.

Didier Deschamps stepped down following a fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup, paving the way for Zidane to finally assume the role he had long coveted. The iconic French midfielder had spent five years out of management after two extraordinary spells at Real Madrid, biding his time for the opportunity to lead Les Bleus.

Zidane will be eager to kick off his tenure with a win against tricky opposition, with Belgium and Italy also sharing the Nations League group with Türkiye and France. This match is the first of four games the 54-year-old will oversee during an extended three-week international break.

Türkiye opted against replacing their head coach despite a deeply disappointing World Cup showing, in which they were eliminated in the group stage behind the USMNT, Australia, and Paraguay. Vincenzo Montella will demand a significant step up from his squad as they prepare to host the two-time world champions on home turf.

Türkiye vs. France Score Prediction

Zidane Clinches Debut Victory

"I know what the fans want to see: to keep watching the France national team winning matches," Zidane said enthusiastically last week. Few incoming coaches of Les Bleus have faced a more demanding start, with the Türkiye fixture followed by clashes against Italy and Belgium (twice).

This international window should serve as a strong early indication of what Zidane's France will look like. Having been criticized for relying on an exceptional squad during his time at Real Madrid, this is his chance to establish a clear identity and philosophy for the national side.

Naturally, he once again has an abundance of world-class talent at his disposal. Kylian Mbappé spearheads a star-studded attack featuring Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise, and Désiré Doué, with plenty of quality also available in defense and midfield.

That attacking firepower should ultimately prove too much for Türkiye, even with Arda Güler operating at his best. While some early growing pains are to be expected under Zidane, a winning start looks likely.

Prediction: Türkiye 1–2 France

Türkiye Predicted Lineup vs. France

Türkiye's challenge is compounded by the injury absences of Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Kenan Yıldız, leaving Montella without two pivotal players and a combined 139 caps of international experience.

In addition, Kaan Ayhan, Çağlar Söyüncü, and Mert Müldür are all unavailable in defense from the World Cup squad, with the latter ruled out until later in the year due to a meniscus injury.

Okan Kocuk, Adil Demirbağ, Bartuğ Elmaz, Melih Kabasakal, and İlhan Fakılı are all in contention to earn their first senior caps across the upcoming four fixtures.

Montella will look to Güler's creativity to unlock France, with the playmaker set to face several of his Real Madrid teammates on the opposing side.

Türkiye predicted lineup vs. France (4-3-3): Çakır; Çelik, Demiral, Bardakcı, Kadıoğlu; Kökçü, Özcan, Yüksek; Güler, Yılmaz, Aktürkoğlu.

France Predicted Lineup vs. Türkiye

Zidane was already missing William Saliba at the heart of defense, and his options were further reduced when Ibrahima Konaté withdrew from the squad through injury. Manchester United's Leny Yoro has been called up as a replacement for the Real Madrid center-back.

Aurélien Tchouaméni was left out having only recently returned from injury, while Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, N'Golo Kanté, and Marcus Thuram have all been omitted from the squad.

Bournemouth's Adrien Truffert earns a recall and is expected to slot straight into the starting XI at left back, while Eduardo Camavinga has also been brought back into the fold after missing the World Cup.

Yoro, Jérémy Jacquet, Esteban Lepaul, Lucas Da Cunha, and Andy Diouf are all outfield players hoping to earn their first international caps.

Zidane has suggested he may deploy Mbappé on the left flank for France, with Dembélé potentially filling the false nine role that has yielded such impressive results for him at Paris Saint-Germain. Whether those adjustments will be implemented against Türkiye, however, remains to be seen.

France predicted lineup vs. Türkiye (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Lacroix, Truffert; Rabiot, Camavinga; Dembélé, Olise, Doué; Mbappé.

What Time Does Türkiye vs. France Kick Off?

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