Kylian Mbappe frustrated by Zidane’s France role

Zinedine Zidane’s France tenure began with a win, but his first tactical decision involving captain Kylian Mbappé has already created an issue to manage. Mbappé was frustrated by being used on the left wing rather than in a central attacking role, despite scoring the goal that secured Zidane’s opening victory.

France beat Turkey 1-0, with Mbappé producing the decisive finish. The forward led the attack from the left in Zidane’s 4-3-3 formation and remained the main threat before leaving his team-mates after feeling pain in his left knee. His goal delivered the result, but his positioning raised questions about how the new coach intends to use his leading forward.

Zidane has said Mbappé can operate in all three attacking positions and has expressed a preference for him on the left. That choice represents a change from the player’s recent role with France, where he had become the regular centre-forward since Euro 2024. It also recalls the position in which Mbappé developed at international level before moving into a more central role.

The victory gives Zidane a positive start, while the tactical disagreement offers an early test of his relationship with his captain. The coach has promoted greater freedom and responsibility within the team, but Mbappé’s reaction shows that his exact position remains an important part of France’s new direction.