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The Zinedine Zidane era began with a winning note on Friday evening, as Les Bleus edged past Türkiye 1–0 to kick off their UEFA Nations League campaign.
After 14 remarkable years that included France's second World Cup triumph (2018), the Didier Deschamps chapter closed following the 2026 World Cup. Zidane had long been touted as Deschamps' natural successor since departing Real Madrid's bench in 2021, and his reign with the national side has now officially begun.
It was anything but a commanding performance from Les Bleus on the road against a determined Türkiye side that, despite missing several key players, still managed to make life difficult for the visitors.
There remains considerable work ahead for Zidane and his squad to truly unlock the full capabilities of this French powerhouse. Nevertheless, a winning debut in his first match on the sideline since May 2021 represents an encouraging start to his tenure, and while it's early days, some noteworthy observations can already be made from Zidane's opening game in charge.
Kylian Mbappé Back to Favorite Position
Zidane had hinted at his intention to deploy Kylian Mbappé on the left flank ahead of Friday's fixture, and he stayed true to his word. It had been since Karim Benzema led the attack for Les Bleus at Euro 2021 that Mbappé last operated from the left wing, as the majority of his appearances since had come as a center forward.
Mbappé lined up wide on the left, with fellow Ballon d'Or hopeful Ousmane Dembélé spearheading the attack against Türkiye. Dembélé is no stranger to the central role, having led Paris Saint-Germain's dynamic front line over the past two seasons to back-to-back Champions League titles—and his trademark pressing of the opposing goalkeeper was very much in evidence on Friday.
Dembélé had operated on the right wing during the World Cup, with Michael Olise deployed centrally as the No. 10.
In just one match, Zidane reorganized France's attack to allow Mbappé to function in a zone he naturally gravitates toward regardless of his starting position. Even so, the Real Madrid star was repeatedly prevented from cutting inside, as defenders forced him toward the byline and turned him into a provider rather than a goalscorer.
However, Dembélé's pressing at the top of France's shape eventually forced a turnover, enabling Olise to survey the field and pick out an unmarked Mbappé on the left to score the decisive goal and the first of the Zidane era.
Regrettably, France's captain picked up an injury in the same sequence and was substituted shortly afterward. How Zidane manages Mbappé's potential absence in upcoming fixtures will be a significant test.
It's Rayan Cherki's Time To Shine
Among the most significant choices Zidane made on his France debut was handing Manchester City's creative midfielder Rayan Cherki a starting berth, after the youngster had been limited exclusively to substitute appearances throughout the 2026 World Cup—aside from the largely ceremonial third-place playoff against England.
Cherki served as France's attacking midfielder on the night, with Olise positioned to his right. While Olise has been outstanding on the right for Bayern Munich, it was a bold call given he had just finished leading the World Cup with seven assists while operating centrally as an attacking midfielder.
Nevertheless, Cherki's drastically limited involvement over the summer had raised many questions, and Zidane appears determined to have his most inventive and technically accomplished players on the field simultaneously. With six goal contributions across City's first seven matches of the season, Cherki, 23, continues his rise as one of the globe's elite playmakers.
It came as little surprise that Les Bleus looked most threatening whenever Cherki and Olise linked up, with the creative duo appearing to be the only players capable of conjuring a moment of brilliance to break down Türkiye's organized defensive structure.
Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola had shared starting duties during the World Cup, but Zidane's choice to include Cherki pushed the wide pair to the bench. As the 2030 cycle gets underway, fully incorporating a player of Cherki's caliber into the fabric of France's formidable attack looks like a shrewd approach from the new head coach.
Zinedine Zidane Won't Try to Reinvent the Wheel
From the moment the starting lineup was revealed, it was immediately apparent that Zidane has no intention of making sweeping changes, preferring instead to build on the foundations Deschamps established.
Despite claiming a record three consecutive Champions League titles during his first three seasons at the Real Madrid helm, Zidane has never been regarded as a tactics-obsessed coach. Rather, his greatest strength has always been getting the best out of the gifted players available to him and fostering an environment in which his stars can flourish.
It has been just one game, but it appears Zidane intends to replicate that philosophy with Les Bleus. Beyond a handful of adjustments—such as Mbappé on the left and Cherki introduced as the No. 10—Zidane's France bore a striking resemblance to the side Deschamps most frequently fielded during the 2026 World Cup.
Adrien Rabiot and Manu Koné retained their places as the starting midfield double pivot, while Jules Koundé and Dayot Upamecano continued to anchor the right side of defense. Maxence Lacroix stepped in for the injured William Saliba, and Adrien Truffert earned the nod at left back with Lucas Digne absent from the squad.
In fairness, it is difficult to fault Zidane for maintaining a similar core, given this was essentially France's strongest available lineup on paper. Wholesale changes would have been far more surprising.
Yet a clear challenge remains—the same one that long frustrated Deschamps: finding a way to fully unleash the potential of the most gifted attack in international football. Les Bleus never truly pinned Türkiye back with sustained pressure. On the contrary, France's forward line looked labored for much of Friday's encounter.