MBAPPE GOAL GIVES ZIDANE WINNING START AS FRANCE BEAT TURKEY

Read Time:1 Minute, 57 Second

By ‘Balogun Ibrahim

Kylian Mbappe scored the decisive goal before leaving the pitch with a knee injury as France defeated Turkey 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League on Friday, giving new coach Zinedine Zidane a winning start.

Mbappe, who played centrally under former France coach Didier Deschamps at the recent World Cup, was deployed on the left wing by Zidane.

The Real Madrid forward opened the scoring with his 67th international goal, controlling a pass from Michael Olise before firing a low shot into the near post at the Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit.

READ MORE…

EL-RUFAI FACING CONSEQUENCES OF HIS TIME IN OFFICE – SHEHU SANI

Mbappe appeared to be in discomfort as his teammates celebrated with him. Although he initially returned to the game after receiving treatment, he later went down again and was seen checking his left knee before being replaced by Desire Doue.

France and Real Madrid will now await further medical assessments to determine the severity of the injury, with France scheduled to play three more matches over the next 10 days.

The injury overshadowed Zidane’s first match since he was appointed France coach in July on a contract running until 2030. The former France midfielder and 1998 World Cup winner had last managed at the elite level during his second spell at Real Madrid, which ended in 2021.

France, who lost to eventual champions Spain in the World Cup semi-finals, are in Group A1 of the Nations League. They will travel to Brussels to face Belgium on Monday, after Belgium defeated Italy 2-0 away from home on Friday.

Rayan Cherki was among the players introduced into Zidane’s starting XI, while Bournemouth defender Adrien Truffert also started at left-back.

Olise came close to putting France ahead late in the first half, but his effort was tipped over the bar by Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.

Turkey responded early in the second half when Mike Maignan denied Abdulkerim Bardakci before Mbappe struck the winning goal.

France later came close to extending their lead when Jules Kounde hit the post. Turkey were reduced to 10 men late in the match after Cakir was sent off following a VAR review for handling the ball outside his penalty area.

Turkey, coached by former Italy international Vincenzo Montella, will face Italy on Monday.