Zidane targets Mbappé return for Turkiye clash after Italy loss

Zinédine Zidane has indicated that France’s captain, Kylian Mbappé, is expected to feature in the upcoming fixture against Turkiye. The forward sat out the 3-1 loss to Italy on Thursday due to a minor muscular issue, but the manager remains optimistic about his participation in the second game of the international window.

Manager’s Outlook on Fitness

During his post-match press conference, Zidane stated he “hopes” Mbappé will be ready for the Turkiye encounter. He further clarified that the player’s return was “planned” for the Sunday match scheduled in Bordeaux. This marks the second consecutive camp where the Real Madrid striker has faced fitness challenges; he had also withdrawn early from the previous gathering, which served as Zidane’s debut as Les Bleus manager.

Absence and Team Context

Mbappé traveled to Milan despite experiencing hamstring discomfort, as noted by L’Équipe. Although unable to play, he watched from the stands as his team suffered their first defeat under Zidane’s tenure. The result places pressure on France to secure a positive outcome against Turkiye to advance from their UEFA Nations League group.