Zinedine Zidane's return to international football has begun with a winning note, as France claimed a 1-0 UEFA Nations League triumph over Turkey in his first match in charge of Les Bleus. The legendary former Real Madrid manager, who has been away from the dugout since departing the Spanish giants in 2021, marked his comeback with a clean sheet victory at the European level. The decisive moment came from Kylian Mbappé's second-half strike, though the France captain sustained an injury during the pivotal play that sealed the win on Friday.
Manchester City midfielder Rayan Cherki was among those expressing admiration for Zidane's immediate influence on the squad. Speaking candidly in the post-match atmosphere, Cherki paid homage to the new manager's legendary pedigree as both a decorated player and accomplished tactician. "It is pure pleasure. We know his past as a player, his past as a manager," the midfielder remarked. "We really wanted to start this adventure with a win. It is good to take it. This victory is for him." Cherki's comments underscored the collective determination within the France camp to deliver results under their illustrious new boss.
Despite the extremely limited time together, Zidane has already begun implementing his tactical philosophy with the national team. "We have only had three sessions (with Zidane) but straight away you feel the instructions that he is trying to instil in us," Cherki explained. "Having the ball, moving it around… today, the quality that went into that, even we were a bit surprised. Everything is new to him, as it is for us, too." These observations highlight how Zidane's football principles are already resonating with the players, even as both manager and squad navigate the early stages of their working relationship.
France's attention now turns to their upcoming Nations League fixtures, with Belgium set to provide back-to-back opposition before a clash against Italy. The strong start under Zidane has set a positive tone for the campaign ahead, though Mbappé's injury concerns will likely be monitored closely as the fixture schedule intensifies.