Despite making the semi-finals, the 2026 World Cup has to be considered a disappointment for France, who were expected to give Didier Deschamps the perfect send-off but were instead outclassed by Spain and then beaten by England in the third-place play-off.
A damaging defeat can often provide the perfect springboard ahead of a new era, though, and Zinedine Zidane will be hoping that is the case when he steps into Deschamps’ sizable shoes for the first time on Friday.
Zidane’s first game takes France to Izmit for a 2026/27 UEFA Nations League opener against Turkey, whose own attempt to bounce back may have to wait.
Turkey v France Tips Summary
Best Bet - France/France - Half-Time/Full-Time @ 5/6
Alternative Bet - Michael Olise anytime goalscorer @ 15/8
Bet Builder - Over 3.5 goals, Rayan Cherki to score or assist & Over 10 corners @ 13/2
Turkey v France Prediction
Best Bet: France/France - Half-Time/Full-Time @ 5/6
They say a team is only as good as their last result but it feels a bit harsh to throw that at France. They were well beaten by the world’s best team in the semi-finals then had downed tools by the time they lost 6-4 to England in the third-place play-off.
There was a reason star-studded France shortened to favourites mid-tournament at the World Cup and they will be eager to show that as early as possible in Friday’s Nations League opener.
Les Bleus are likely to play faster under Zidane than they did with Deschamps at the helm and that should lead to a quick start in Izmit, where Turkey’s bid to bounce back from a World Cup group-stage exit faces an early blow.
The Crescent-Stars trailed at half-time in both of their defeats at the World Cup and given those losses came against Paraguay and Australia, it is hard to see France failing to repeat the feat.
Alternative Bet: Michael Olise anytime goalscorer @ 15/8
France are set to hit Turkey hard and while any of Kylian Mbappe, Desire Doue or Ousmane Dembele could step up, Michael Olise’s brilliant start to the season makes him the value play.
The French star has scored eight times in six Bayern Munich starts, suggesting his days of prioritising playmaking over goals may be over.
That spells trouble for a Turkey defence which shipped five goals in three World Cup outings, so back red-hot Olise to keep up his fine scoring form.
Turkey v France Bet Builder Tip
Over 3.5 goals
Rayan Cherki to score or assist
Over 10 corners
Pays 13/2
Goals follow France’s attackers wherever they go and it would be no surprise for a Turkey home match to see the net bulge at least four times for the fifth time in seven fixtures.
Rayan Cherki struggled to nail down a starting spot under Deschamps but Zidane, a more attacking kind of midfielder than his predecessor was in their playing days, is likely to find a place for the Manchester City star’s elite playmaking.
City’s chief playmaker created 12 Premier League goals last season and has started the new campaign with a couple more assists and three strikes of his own in five league games.
An exciting game is in store and that should lead to plenty of corners. Turkey’s games at the World Cup averaged 12 corners per match while the higher pace France are likely to play at should also help the flag-kick count soar.
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Key Match Stats
France have won seven of their last nine matches
Les Bleus scored 20 goals in eight games at the World Cup
Turkey lost two of their three World Cup matches to nil
Only one of France's last five games has seen both teams score
Baris Yilmaz has been directly involved in four of Turkey's last five goals
France have led at half-time and won on five of their last six away days
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
