Türkiye is set to face a formidable challenge as it kicks off its UEFA Nations League campaign against France on Friday at Kocaeli Stadium. This match marks Türkiye’s return to League A, a notable achievement since the competition’s inception in 2018. However, the team will need to overcome a daunting task against a French squad now under the leadership of new head coach Zinedine Zidane.
The encounter is especially significant for Türkiye as the team aims to rebound from a lackluster performance in the 2026 World Cup. Historically, Türkiye has struggled against France, managing only one win in six past encounters—a 2-0 victory during the 2019 European Championship qualifiers.
Vincenzo Montella’s side may face additional hurdles with midfielder Orkun Kökçü’s status uncertain due to a toe injury that kept him out of recent training sessions. The team is also introducing several players receiving their first senior call-ups, adding an element of unpredictability to their lineup.
On the French side, star players like captain Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé will be key figures, though Mbappé’s participation might be affected by flu-like symptoms that caused him to miss a training session. France is also dealing with fitness concerns among several players, adding complexity to Zidane’s debut match as head coach.
The match is part of Group A1, which also includes Italy and Belgium. Following the clash with France, Türkiye will host Italy on September 28 before traveling to face Belgium and Italy again in October, underscoring the challenging path ahead in their Nations League journey.