Zinédine Zidane's big debut at the head of the Blues therefore ended in a victory (0-1). Far from being flamboyant, certainly, but it was far from being a formality in Izmit, against an eye-catching and vengeful Turkish team after their failed World Cup. History will remember that Kylian Mbappé scored the first goal of the Zizou era, with a clinical strike from the right to the near post - on which he was injured. Come on, let's rate the players and the coach after this success.
Mike Maignan (7/10) : Un super arrêt en début de match, pas comptabilisé puisque l’attaquant était hors de jeu de 3 mètres mais comme le juge de ligne a mis une heure à lever son drapeau, le gardien du Milan a pu s’échauffer. It served him well for the second half, when at 0-0, he avoided the opener with a superb tap on a point-blank header from Yuksek (50th). Still solid on a shot from Güler at the start of the last quarter of an hour. Maignan as we like it, in short.
Jules Koundé (4.5/10): Classic Koundé, reliable behind but still troubled with the ball as soon as he crosses the halfway line. We admit to having complained for example about this magnificent outside of Olise's foot in the first period, on which he should be first but leaves a time late. As always... It's not because it's Zidane that he's going to turn into Willy Sagnol.
Dayot Upamecano (6.5/10): The Bavarian spent his match locking horns with Yilmaz, the strong and surly center forward from Turkey. He left the first duel with him, then put it in his pocket until the peroxide came out at the end of the meeting. Serene, he was the regulator of the defensive line. Slight downside, he could have tried a few crosses on the restart, especially in the first period when there were a lot of unused spaces on the left side.
Maxence Lacroix (5,5/10) : La sobriété avant tout. If one of the two central players had to carry the ball a little or attempt a restart, it was Upamecano who took care of it. The new Chelsea defender did the job, controlling Yilmaz well when the latter came into his area. A small misplacement which could have been costly, all the same, on a Turkish counterattack in the first period.
Adrien Truffert (6/10): Lots of desire and activity, for his return to the French team, four years to the day after his one and only selection. Would have deserved to be served more often on his calls, especially since it was the case it was dangerous, like on the action which led to Olise's curled shot (43). A little stress too, which made him miss some fairly simple checks and passes, but overall a good match. He releases hot balls in the last minutes.
Manu Koné (5/10): In a lower position than during the World Cup, the midfielder lost a lot of balls in an area where this is normally prohibited. In his defense, there was space to cover in this hybrid trio, where Cherki on his right could not have the same defensive performance as Rabiot on his left. Still very strong on impact but he will need more technical accuracy to impose himself on the post.
Adrien Rabiot (7.5/10): The strong man in the middle is him. He never stops, defends by advancing, will put pressure on the carrier as soon as he has the opportunity. And as he is not angry with the ball, his projections create interesting gaps. Essential, and as he had given Deschamps a little push the day before in conference on the preparation of the semi-final against Spain, that's even half a point more.
Rayan Cherki (6/10): In an unusual relay position – which he only partially played – the City player tried a lot to speed up the game with small one-touch deviations. It wasn't always a success, but as soon as it happened, the whole attack could get going. Should have armed more quickly on a nice one-touch delivery from Dembélé, at the end of the first period (41st). Replaced by Camavinga to keep the score in the last quarter of an hour.
Michael Olise (6,5/10) : Le problème avec lui est que quand il rate, son indolence semble tout de suite coupable. While he does not put more intensity into his actions when he succeeds. So is Olise, who took a while to get into his match before being interesting in the short game with Cherki and better finding Dembélé. His special – curling shot from the left from the right corner of the area – would have deserved a better fate, but let's give Ugurcar his due, his save is magnificent. Replaced by Barcola, who hurt the Turkish legs on the few balls he had on the left side, notably causing the expulsion of this same Ugurcar.
Ousmane Dembélé (6/10): Generous, Ousmane. We saw it in the oven, in the mill, but less on the surface, unfortunately. In a false 9 role, he mainly worked for the collective, dropping out to touch balls or making calls to free up spaces inside the game into which Olise and Mbappé had to rush. Not very successful, he never gave up, and it was his pressure on the Turkish goalkeeper which led to Mbappé opening the score (54th). Recovered Kylian's armband, proof of the status granted to him by Zidane, before giving way to Esteban Lepaul at the very end of the match.
Kylian Mbappé (6/10): This return to the left side will not leave a lasting memory. The captain of the Blues wandered there for a long time like a lost soul, not serving much and himself forgetting to play with Truffert when possible. He missed the first opportunity of the match (17th), but made up for it in the second half by scoring the only goal of the match, with a cool shot at the near post (54th). His 67th goal with the Blues, and perhaps the last of this gathering... Because the Kyks injured his knee immediately. Replaced immediately afterwards by Désiré Doué
Zinédine Zidane (6.5/10): He becomes the first coach since… Aimé Jacquet, in 1994, to begin his mandate with a victory. It is certainly narrow, but his team held the ball and created the best chances. He had made strong choices - combining Cherki and Olise, putting Mbappé back on the left - and his players made him want to see them again. A perfect first, therefore, because you shouldn't have asked for much more (except arriving on time for the Marseillaise). And what's more, his cardiologist will be happy: he has completed his 10,000 steps along his technical zone.
