France head coach
Zidane expressed his relief at having his primary attacking threat back in the fold for such a pivotal fixture. The manager emphasized that Mbappe’s presence significantly alters the team's dynamic, noting that he would always prefer to have the forward available for selection rather than sidelined. Mbappe has been in prolific form for his club this season, netting 17 goals across all competitions for Real Madrid.
Zidane addresses squad status and relationship rumors
The return of the 25-year-old marks a timely boost for France, who currently sit second in Group A1 with 10 points. Level on points with Italy, the French side needs only a draw against Turkey on Sunday to guarantee their place in the knockout stages of the competition. Mbappe’s inclusion follows his recent return to the international setup during this window after missing the previous three matches for his country due to fitness concerns.
During his pre-match press conference, Zidane also took the opportunity to address recent media speculation regarding his personal relationship with the forward. The former World Cup winner dismissed reports of internal tension as unfounded, describing the rumors as both nonsensical and frustrating. Zidane maintained that the professional rapport between himself and the player remains strong as the squad prepares for the final push in the group stage.
