Türkiye is set to kick off its UEFA Nations League campaign against France this Friday at Kocaeli Stadium, marking a challenging return to League A since the competition’s inception in 2018. Under the leadership of new head coach Vincenzo Montella, Türkiye is aiming to bounce back from a disappointing 2026 World Cup run.
Facing a formidable French side led by newly appointed head coach Zinedine Zidane, Türkiye will need to overcome a history of struggles against France, having secured just one win in their six previous encounters. That solitary victory was a 2-0 triumph during the European Championship qualifiers in 2019, alongside one draw and four losses.
Midfielder Orkun Kökçü might miss the match due to a toe injury that kept him from training, and Türkiye plans to debut several players receiving their first senior team call-ups. Meanwhile, France’s squad features star captain Kylian Mbappé, who also missed a training session because of flu-like symptoms. The team includes notable players such as Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Désiré Doué, though they, too, face fitness challenges with some players unavailable.
Both teams are part of a competitive Group A1, which also includes Italy and Belgium. Following their match against France, Türkiye is scheduled to play Italy at home on September 28, before going on the road to face Belgium and Italy in October.