France-Türkiye: a victory and spectacle, the mission of the Blues for Zidane's return to Bordeaux

Zinédine Zidane will have a hard time recognizing the place on Sunday evening during the Marseillaise. A regular at Parc Lescure during his years in Bordeaux (1992-1996), “Zizou”, born in football in Gironde, is expected like a rock star in a packed Atlantic stadium (41,000 spectators and more than 120,000 requests for seats) for the last match of the year for the Blues. It will be against Turkey (8:45 p.m.), a weak opponent with five defeats in five Nations League matches.

After the first hitch of the “ZZ” era, the task of the Blues is known to all: to win, reassure and leave a good impression before the Christmas holidays with qualification for the quarter-final (March 25-30). For first place in the group, the defeat of Milan (3-1) forces the French team to watch at the same time what will happen in Brussels between Belgium and Italy. A draw between the two teams, coupled with a French victory, and the Kylian Mbappé gang – whose return is eagerly awaited – will avoid meeting a group leader, which could be Spain.

Mbappé, highly anticipated return of the boss

If the Italian gray has given way to identical weather in Gironde, the French team wants to find a smile and some color after its very disappointing last half hour in Lombardy. Overturned in unexpected proportions, the selection must offer pride and reaction on Sunday evening. Turkey, beaten at home by Belgium on Thursday (1-2), has all the right opponents to get back on track. And allow Kylian Mbappé, left to rest against Italy, to prove that he is still the best when it comes to getting the job done in the blue jersey.

In his desire to imprint a style, a touch and to contrast with almost all the habits of his predecessor, Zinédine Zidane has played cuddle therapy in recent hours towards a group relieved of Dayot Upamecano, back in Munich for personal reasons. If everything is not to be thrown away from the Italian shower - the first 55 minutes at San Siro gave a glimpse of the conquering Blues, playful but unrealistic - the Malo Gusto nightmare, the defensive weakness, the collective inability to stop the bleeding and the disappearance of executives (Upamecano, Rabiot, Olise) are all elements likely to be erased in the months to come.

Will Zidane persist with Zaire-Emery?

For the last meeting of the year, before the reunion in March 2027, the French team will be different from the one seen in Lombardy. The return of Mbappé will focus all eyes and the captain (107 caps, 67 goals) is called upon to do what he does best: score goals. His attacking colleagues (Barcola, Olise, Cherki must also show more over the entirety of a match (Doué is uncertain after his dental problem) than in Milan, while the midfield should also move (Camavinga and Zaire-Emery should be started) and the defense (Maignan - Kumbedi, Jacquet, Konaté, Diouf) provide more solidity despite the persistence of Zidane not to place the double European champion of PSG on the right side.

Saël Kumbedi, who plays for Wolfsburg in the second division, should therefore experience his first start with the Blues, a sign of a rare weakness in this position. Zidane knows this and is okay with it. He has no other choice. For his big return to a city where he has become “Zizou”, the coach is waiting for a reaction from his troops. The public too.