French Team: Mbappé repositioned, Zidane already making his mark

Zinedine Zidane is preparing his first match as France head coach and plans to reposition Kylian Mbappé on the left wing in a 4-3-3 formation against Turkey on September 27, 2026, in Kocaeli. This tactical change, already discussed with Mbappé in a phone call, involves placing Michael Olise on the right and Ousmane Dembélé as the striker, marking a shift from Deschamps’ setup. The French staff also considers pairing Rabiot in midfield and Diouf as a left-back to control the left flank and maintain team balance. The match will serve as a key test to evaluate this new strategy, with potential adjustments if needed.