Zidane to make France debut as Nations League kicks off; Italy v Belgium also on
Zinedine Zidane's first match in charge of France and Roberto Mancini's return headline the Nations League opening round.
Tonight's opening round of Nations League fixtures brings several high-profile tests, headlined by Turkey hosting France in Kocaeli and Italy facing Belgium in another eagerly watched game.
For France the evening carries particular interest: Zinedine Zidane will make his debut as head coach. Questions loom over how Zidane will manage a squad packed with stars — notably Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Lesley Ugochukwu Olise — and whether his approach can harness their talent for the national side.
Turkey, meanwhile, arrive in Kocaeli under scrutiny after a disappointing World Cup campaign this summer, and the home crowd will be keen to see a reaction against the reigning European heavyweight.
Fixtures to follow
The return of Roberto Mancini to the Italy dugout has added extra intrigue to the Italy–Belgium match billed as a chance to assess a refreshed Azzurri side. "The 'new' Italy against Belgium."
Alongside the A League matches there are fixtures across League B and League C this evening, giving several national teams competitive tests as the new Nations League cycle gets under way.
- A League — 20:45
- Italy – Belgium
- Turkey – France
- B League — 20:45
- Poland – Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Sweden – Romania
- Hungary – Ukraine
- Georgia – Northern Ireland (18:00)
- C League — 20:45
- Montenegro – Cyprus
- Armenia – Latvia (18:00)
Photo: press material from the event
