Turki vs Prancis: Menanti Era Baru Prancis Bersama Zizou

Turkey vs France: Awaiting a New Era for France Under Zizou

Dimas Sembada - September 25, 2026

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Turkey will face France on matchday one of the UEFA Nations League in the early hours of Saturday (September 26) WIB. The match will mark Zinedine Zidane’s debut as France head coach following the end of Didier Deschamps’ tenure. Meanwhile, the Crescent-Stars will also be looking to prove they still have plenty to offer after their disappointing campaign at the 2026 World Cup.

The two teams will meet at Kocaeli Stadium Artuk. Both nations head into the game with different objectives. Turkey will be determined to silence the criticism they received following their failure at the 2026 World Cup. Arda Guler and his teammates were eliminated in the group stage, a result that came as a major setback for the team.

France, meanwhile, will begin a new era under Zidane after 14 successful years with Didier Deschamps. The arrival of Zizou has generated plenty of anticipation, particularly regarding the direction France will take under their new coach. Under Deschamps, France regularly reached the latter stages of major tournaments, including the semi-finals in two of the last three World Cups.

For now, both teams will turn their attention to the Nations League. Vincenzo Montella’s side do not have the strongest record in the competition, having been relegated to League B during the 2024/25 edition. Turkey recorded 11 wins, six draws, and seven defeats during their Nations League campaign. However, they have enjoyed success against France, particularly on home soil. In 2019, Turkey secured a 2-0 victory over Les Bleus.

Turkey will be without two key players, however, with Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz unavailable for the match. Arda Guler and Baris Yilmaz are expected to play important roles in leading the attack. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Kylian Mbappe could operate on the left side of France’s attack, with Ousmane Dembele potentially taking up the No. 9 role.

Vivagoal predicts that France will prove to be a difficult opponent for Turkey. Following their disappointing World Cup campaign, Turkey’s hopes of making an immediate comeback may be difficult to realize. Zidane’s new era with France is expected to begin with three points in Turkey, although a narrow victory is anticipated.