Mbappé sat out Tuesday’s session with flu symptoms but rejoined the group in full on Wednesday, according to French outlet RMC. France travel to Türkiye on Thursday morning, with kick-off at the Kocaeli Stadium set for 9:45pm local time.

The evening belongs, more than to anyone else, to Zidane. The 1998 World Cup winner replaced Didier Deschamps in the summer after France finished third at the 2026 World Cup, and he named his first squad on 18 September with Mbappé kept on as captain.

“I’ve waited five years for this chance”

The route back to the touchline has been a long one. Zidane walked away from Real Madrid in 2021 and had not coached since, turning down what he described as multiple club approaches while the France job stayed out of reach.

“I’ve waited five years for this chance, so that’s why I’m a bit emotional,” Zidane said on his unveiling.

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“I had some offers during the five years I was away to take charge of a club. I turned them all down for the France team. It was the only thing I wanted to do.”

He has also signalled a stylistic break with his predecessor.

“What motivates me is the game, I was a No. 10, I like goals,” he said. “I was a leader on the field and now I want to be a leader by experience.”

A group with Italy and Belgium waiting

William Saliba, Marcus Thuram and Jean-Philippe Mateta all miss out with fitness issues, and Aurélien Tchouaméni was left out as a precaution after a recent muscle problem at Real Madrid. The squad also carries five uncapped names, from goalkeeper Guillaume Restes to striker Esteban Le Paul, alongside a recall for Eduardo Camavinga, France 24 reported.

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The group is no gentle bedding-in. When the 2026-27 Nations League was drawn in Brussels on 12 February, France were placed in League A Group 1 with Italy, Belgium and Türkiye. A trip to Belgium follows three days after the Türkiye tie, and Italy and Belgium then visit France at home in October.

Türkiye, under Vincenzo Montella, come in from a World Cup group-stage exit that finished with a 3-2 win over the United States.

Zidane has framed the opener as narrowly as a first-time coach can afford.

“From the beginning of the get-together, I will have only one goal: to win my first match in Turkey.”

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