Fit-again Mbappe returns to France line-up for Turkey Nations League test

Kylian Mbappe has been named in France’s starting XI for Sunday’s decisive Nations League meeting with Turkey, after recovering from a hamstring problem.

Zinedine Zidane’s side host Turkey in the sixth round of the 2026/27 Nations League, with the result set to determine which team reaches the quarter-finals.

France will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Mbappe leading the attack alongside Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola. Turkey will use a 3-5-2 system, with Arda Guler selected in the forward line.

France’s starting XI is: Maignan, Kumbedi, Jacquet, Konate, Diouf, Cherki, Da Cunha, Rabiot, Olise, Mbappe and Barcola.

Turkey’s team is: Ozer, Demiral, Bardakcı, Topcu, Celik, Yuksek, Calhanoglu, Uzun, Elmalı, Guler and Gul.

Mbappe returned to group training two days before the match after missing France’s 3-1 defeat by Italy at San Siro on Thursday. The Real Madrid forward had been troubled by pain in his hamstring, but showed significant improvement in his physical condition.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Mbappe took part in France’s evening training session at Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux, marking the main development in the team’s preparations for the Turkey match.

Zidane said after the defeat by Italy that he believed Mbappe could feature, explaining that his absence in Milan had been planned.

“I hope he will be ready on Sunday. That was the plan, as he was supposed to be rested because he was suffering from some pain, while keeping open the possibility of him playing,” Zidane said at his news conference when asked about the Real Madrid player’s fitness.

The return of France captain Mbappe is a significant boost for the two-time world champions, who struggled without him against Italy.

France’s defeat disrupted their position in Group A of League A and ended Zidane’s unbeaten start since he took charge of the national team in July. Zidane succeeded Didier Deschamps, with expectations that he can help France return to challenging for major honours with a squad combining established players and emerging talent.

His competitive tenure began with a 1-0 away victory over Turkey on 25 September. Mbappe scored the winning goal in that match before suffering a knee injury, which ruled him out of France’s remaining fixtures during the previous international break.