# France leads Nations League Group A1 under Zidane > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/france-national-football-team-internal-tensions > Updated: 2026-09-30T11:12:57.000Z. Sources: 491. Developments: 9. Zinédine Zidane has maintained a successful start as France manager, leading Les Bleus to two consecutive 1-0 victories in the UEFA Nations League. Following an opening win against Türkiye, France defeated Belgium at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. The decisive moment occurred in the 88th minute when substitute Michael Olise executed a solo run from his own half to score. Zidane described Olise as a ‘phenomenal talent’ and reacted emotionally to the goal, an outburst he later characterized as ‘ridiculous’. To secure the win against Belgium, Zidane implemented nine tactical changes to the lineup, including the debuts of Andy Diouf, Jérémy Jacquet, and Lucas Da Cunha. The team utilized new roles for players such as Eduardo Camavinga and Andy Diouf to maintain control of the tempo. These victories place France at the top of Group A1 with six points, ahead of Belgium and Italy. Ahead of the upcoming fixture against Italy at the Stade de France, midfielder Manu Koné praised Zidane’s management. Koné described the coach as a ‘world legend’ who employs a ‘human and sincere approach’ to foster player confidence and freedom. While addressing his club future, Koné reaffirmed his commitment to AS Roma despite recent transfer rumors involving Chelsea and Inter Milan. ## Claims - Mbappé scored the only goal in France's 1-0 victory against Turkey. (disputed by 4 sources) - Michael Olise scored the winning goal for France in the 88th minute. (disputed by 3 sources) - Kylian Mbappé suffered a knee injury during the match. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The coaching staff for the French national team will consist of between 23 and 28 members. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Zinédine Zidane stated that the situation regarding Kylian Mbappé's injury does not look good. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Zinédine Zidane reported that Mbappé sustained a knee overload during a shot. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The French football association confirmed Mbappé will return to Madrid for treatment. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The French newspaper L'Équipe reported that Mbappé is playing under pain. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Mbappé will miss upcoming matches against Belgium and Italy. (corroborated by 4 sources) - France defeated Belgium 1-0 in a Nations League match. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Zinedine Zidane described Arda Güler as a very good player. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Zinedine Zidane expressed hope that Kylian Mbappe will play in the upcoming match. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-30: Manu Koné praises Zidane and reaffirms Roma commitment France midfielder Manu Koné praised coach Zinedine Zidane’s leadership and reaffirmed his commitment to AS Roma amid transfer rumors ahead of France's Nations League clash with Italy. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/manu-kon-praises-zindine-zidane-ahead-of-france-vs-italy-match ### 2026-09-28: France defeats Belgium 1-0 in Nations League via Olise goal Michael Olise scored a late 88th-minute winner to lead France to a 1-0 victory over Belgium, marking a second consecutive win under new manager Zinedine Zidane in the UEFA Nations League. 121 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-faces-belgium-in-nations-league-clash-in-brussels ### 2026-09-26: Zinedine Zidane begins France tenure with Nations League win Zinedine Zidane's debut as France manager saw a 1-0 win over Turkey. While Zidane praised Rayan Cherki's versatility, critics suggest the tactical shift from the Deschamps era has been limited. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/zinedine-zidane-begins-france-tenure-with-nations-league-win ### 2026-09-26: Belgium and France face off in Nations League derby Belgium hosts France in a UEFA Nations League clash in Brussels. France will play without Kylian Mbappe due to a knee injury, while Belgium seeks to build on their recent 2-0 win over Italy. 107 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/zindine-zidane-secures-historic-win-in-france-debut ### 2026-09-23: France defeats Turkey 1-0 in Zidane's debut as national team manager Zinedine Zidane's debut as France manager ended in a 1-0 win over Turkey, but Kylian Mbappé left the match with a knee injury after scoring the winning goal. 332 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/trkiye-vs-france-uefa-nations-league-opener-set-for-kocaeli ### 2026-09-21: Zinedine Zidane begins tenure as France national team coach Zinedine Zidane has commenced his role as France's national team coach, introducing tactical changes and a 4-3-3 formation ahead of the UEFA Nations League matches. 85 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/zinedine-zidane-leads-first-france-national-team-training-session-1 ### 2026-09-21: Kylian Mbappé denies tension with Ousmane Dembélé Kylian Mbappé has dismissed rumors of a rift with Ousmane Dembélé, clarifying that recent comments regarding their Ballon d'Or prospects have been resolved through direct communication and mediation. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kylian-mbapp-and-ousmane-dembl-resolve-tension ### 2026-09-15: Mbappé and Dembélé clash over Ballon d'Or comments Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé face growing tension following Mbappé's comments about being ‘the chosen one,’ sparking claims of betrayal within the French national team. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kylian-mbapp-and-ousmane-dembl-clash-over-career-comments ### 2026-09-14: Zinedine Zidane appointed head coach of France national team Zinedine Zidane has been appointed head coach of the French national team, unveiling a large support staff ahead of his Nations League debut and facing early challenges managing player tensions. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-national-team-faces-internal-division-under-zidane --- Cite as: France leads Nations League Group A1 under Zidane. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/france-national-football-team-internal-tensions