Zinédine Zidane Begins Coaching France with Victory Amid Mbappé Injury

Zinédine Zidane marked his debut as head coach of the French national football team with a narrow 1-0 win over Turkey on September 25, 2026. The winning goal was scored by star forward Kylian Mbappé, who unfortunately suffered a knee injury during the match, described as a hyperextension by Zidane. Due to this injury, Mbappé is expected to miss the next three games, including the upcoming Nations League fixture against Belgium on September 28, 2026, which is being held in Brussels at the Roi Baudouin Stadium.

In Mbappé’s absence, veteran winger Ousmane Dembélé is likely to captain the French side against Belgium. Despite limited preparation time with only one full training session following their late-night return from Turkey, Zidane’s team is focused on maintaining a high-pressing style of play to quickly regain possession. Midfielder Eduardo Camavinga highlighted the team’s commitment to collective defensive effort under this tactical approach. Zidane also hinted at making some changes to the lineup for the Belgium match, while keeping tactical details under wraps to keep the opponents guessing.

The Belgian squad, having started their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Italy, will pose a stern test for France as they look to build momentum early in Zidane’s tenure. Zidane’s first home match in charge is scheduled for October 2, 2026, against Italy at the Stade de France. Meanwhile, new talents such as Rayan Cherki and Bradley Barcola are expected to feature as Zidane evaluates his squad’s depth and adaptability to his methods.

Despite the setback of Mbappé’s injury, Zidane remains unruffled and optimistic about the team’s prospects. His composure was reflected in his foundational approach rooted in a high pressing game, which requires full team buy-in both offensively and defensively. France’s performance against Turkey and preparations for Belgium indicate a promising but testing start to Zidane’s coaching era.