Who: Turkiye vs France What: UEFA Nations League Where: Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, Turkiye When: Friday, September 25, at 9:45pm ( ) How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will have all the build-up from . Zinedine Zidane was asked if taking charge of his first France game on Friday will feel just as special as his playing debut for Les Bleus more than 30 years ago. His former teammate Deschamps was in charge for 14 years, winning the World Cup in 2018 and losing the 2022 final.
Now it’s Zidane’s chance to make his mark on a team he once starred for. Affectionately nicknamed “Zizou”, his face was beamed onto the Arc de Triomphe in Paris the night France celebrated its first World Cup triumph in 1998. Zidane scored two headers in the final in a 3-0 win over Brazil and later that year he won the Ballon d’Or.
Two years later, he was instrumental in France winning the European Championship. His rise to the top seemed almost fated, for his international career began brilliantly in 1994 with two stunning goals against the Czech Republic after coming on as a substitute. He then won league titles with Juventus and Real Madrid and scored a brilliant volley to help Madrid win the Champions League in 2002.
Zidane understands expectations are high, given his achievements as a player and how he led Real Madrid to three straight Champions League titles as a coach. I’m taking over as head coach so people are talking about it,” he said. France’s all-time top scorer Kylian Mbappe is set to captain the side, having shrugged off a minor injury.
Zidane was asked why, given that Mbappe is captain, he was not present at Thursday’s pre-match news conference. Instead, it was midfielder Adrien Rabiot who spoke to the media. He will be ready to play tomorrow.” Rabiot is one of France’s vice-captains along with forward Ousmane Dembele and right back Jules Kounde.
Rabiot said the huge attention placed on Zidane gave the players a welcome back seat. It gives them a bit more peace and quiet.” Zidane understands the limelight but does not seek it. But I’m not here for that,” he said.
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