Zinedine Zidane is set to take charge of France for the first time on Friday night as Les Bleus begin a new chapter under one of the most decorated figures in football.

France face Türkiye in their UEFA Nations League opener at the Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, with Zidane taking his place in the dugout for the first time since succeeding Didier Deschamps.

The appointment marks the beginning of a new four year project for the former Real Madrid manager, who enjoyed extraordinary success at club level, including three consecutive Champions League titles. Now, he faces the very different challenge of leading the country he once represented as a player.

France's recent World Cup campaign ended in disappointment. They reached the semi finals before losing to eventual champions Spain, then suffered another defeat against England in the third place play off.

Zidane knows there is little room for a slow start.

Speaking ahead of the match, he showed plenty of respect for Türkiye and warned his players that they will face a difficult evening.

“Türkiye are a very good team,” Zidane said. He also pointed to their participation at the recent World Cup and suggested that their early elimination did not reflect their true quality.

The French coach made it clear that his target is simple: France must go out looking for victory.

But while much of the attention will naturally be on Zidane, the spotlight will also fall heavily on his players. France still possess one of the most dangerous attacking groups in international football, with captain Kylian Mbappé expected to lead the line alongside stars such as Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise.

Zidane has also brought new faces into the squad, suggesting that the start of his reign could come with changes in both personnel and style.

However, France have already been forced to make adjustments at the back, with Ibrahima Konaté among the players unavailable for the opening fixture.

Türkiye Ready to Make Life Difficult

Türkiye will have no intention of allowing Zidane's first night to become a celebration.

Vincenzo Montella's side are determined to respond after their disappointing World Cup group stage exit and will have the advantage of playing in front of a passionate home crowd.

More than 35,000 supporters are expected inside the stadium, creating an atmosphere France will have to handle from the opening whistle.

Türkiye will, however, be without some important players. Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Kenan Yıldız are among those missing, leaving greater responsibility on the players available.

One player who will attract plenty of attention is Arda Güler.

The Real Madrid midfielder remains one of Türkiye's biggest talents and has already earned praise from Zidane, who described him as a “very, very good player.”

A New Chapter for Zidane

France have historically enjoyed the better record in this fixture, although Türkiye have already shown that they can cause problems. Their victory over France in 2019 remains a reminder that the French cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.

For Zidane, though, this is about much more than another international fixture.

He returns to the international stage in a completely different role. This time, he is not the legendary midfielder controlling the game from the pitch. He is the man standing on the touchline, responsible for making the decisions.

The Nations League will provide Zidane with plenty of challenges in the weeks ahead, with Belgium and Italy also waiting.

A strong opening result would give his reign an immediate boost. But Türkiye will be determined to make sure Zidane's first night as France coach is remembered for anything but an easy beginning.

The stage is set in Izmit.

A new France era begins on Friday night, and Türkiye will be ready to test it from the very first whistle.

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