Zidane launches the Blues far from Istanbul, in Izmit for the League

Zinédine Zidane will begin his tenure at the helm of the French national team this Friday in the Nations League, far from the confines of Istanbul. Turkey has chosen the Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, an hour from the metropolis, to host France. The venue, with a capacity of around 34,000 seats, will see kickoff at 8:45 p.m., French time.

This choice may surprise the French public, but it fits within the Turkish national team's regular practice of traveling frequently across the country. The Milli Takim does not always play in Istanbul, preferring to meet different audiences in cities where loyalty to the big clubs can sometimes outweigh that to the national team.

Club rivalries and logistics

Rivalries between Turkish clubs complicate the hosting of the national team. A Turkish football observer, quoted in the report, summarises the situation as follows:

France choose Izmit over Istanbul to face Turkey

“When the Milli Takim plays at the ‘Gala’ stadium, the ‘Fener’ players are whistled at… and vice versa.”

French preparations and past experience

On the French side, a FFF spokesperson offers a different reading: “They are afraid of the supporters’ reaction.” This interpretation adds to the itinerant habits of the national team, without alone explaining the choice of Izmit. The French side recall a defeat in Konya in June 2019, where Didier Deschamps’s team lost 0‑2 in a hostile atmosphere.

The French staff therefore prepared this trip carefully. Hamidou Msaïdie, one of the assistants with the broadest responsibilities in the new staff, inspected the Kocaeli stadium as early as August, from the pitch to the players’ areas. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:45 p.m., and Kylian Mbappé’s presence promises a particularly strong atmosphere.

Zinédine Zidane regains confidence in Istanbul despite Juventus crisis

Moving away from Istanbul guarantees no peace of mind for the visitors, and the stadium is expected to be full for Zinédine Zidane’s very first match in charge of the French side. The players will have to stay masters of their game despite the pressure from the stands, as Turkish tradition demands.