Zinedine Zidane will take charge of his first match as France head coach on Friday, September 25, when Les Bleus face Turkiye in the UEFA Nations League. The highly anticipated game will take place at the Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, Turkiye, with a 9:45 PM local time kickoff (18:45 GMT).

This marks a significant moment for Zidane, a legendary figure in French football, as he steps into the top coaching role after replacing Didier Deschamps, who managed the team for 14 years. Zidane's appointment follows his successful tenure coaching Real Madrid, where he secured three consecutive Champions League titles.

Speaking ahead of the match, Zidane expressed the immense emotion he feels leading the national team, a role he described as "something new." He acknowledged the high expectations that accompany his illustrious playing career and coaching achievements. "It makes sense" that people are talking about his debut, he stated.

France's star forward Kylian Mbappe has been given the all-clear to play despite a minor injury and is expected to captain the side. Midfielder Adrien Rabiot, one of the team's vice-captains, attended the pre-match press conference, explaining that only the coach and one player are required to be present.

Zidane, affectionately known as "Zizou," has a storied history with the French national team. His playing career was marked by iconic moments, including two goals in the 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil and instrumental performances in France's Euro 2000 triumph. His international debut in 1994 also saw him score two memorable goals as a substitute.

Following the match against Turkiye, France is scheduled to play away against Belgium on the subsequent Monday. Their Nations League campaign will continue with home fixtures against Italy on October 2, followed by another match against Belgium three days later, both to be held at the Stade de France.

Rabiot noted that the intense focus on Zidane's debut has provided a "welcome back seat" for the players, allowing them to concentrate on their performance. The weight of expectation on Zidane is considerable, given his unparalleled success as both a player and a club manager.

The UEFA Nations League provides Zidane with his first competitive platform to imprint his coaching philosophy on the French squad, aiming to build upon the team's recent successes under Deschamps, including the 2018 World Cup win and the 2022 World Cup final appearance.