France camp under scrutiny as Zinedine Zidane faces Mbappe tension before Turkey match

France’s 3-1 defeat by Italy has been followed by reports of unrest inside the national-team camp, with criticism of Zinedine Zidane’s decisions, organisational problems and tension between the manager and captain Kylian Mbappe.

The claims were made by Cyril Hanouna, a presenter on French television channel W9, during an appearance on Friday. Hanouna said he had information from inside the France squad.

He reported that several of Zidane’s decisions had raised questions among the players, particularly his selection choices. The squad reportedly includes players competing in lower divisions, with Sael Kumbedi said to be the only member playing in the German second tier.

According to Hanouna, the concerns extend beyond the names selected and include the way Zidane is managing the team.

Some players are reportedly willing to allow the manager to continue with his experiments, even if that results in another setback for France. The aim, Hanouna said, is for Zidane to eventually stop changing his ideas and settle on clearer choices.

The reported disruption has also involved matters away from the pitch. Hanouna said the departure of Dayot Upamecano from the camp, officially for personal reasons, came as a surprise to the coaching staff and had not been expected.

There have also been organisational difficulties during the squad’s gathering. The timing of Friday’s training session in Bordeaux was changed, while concerns were raised about the possibility of some members of staff losing their positions.

A number of players are also said to have been unhappy with arrangements for their families’ travel. Those issues, according to Hanouna’s account, have added to a sense of disorder that is not limited to France’s results or tactical decisions.

Mbappe situation adds to pressure

The most sensitive issue concerns Mbappe’s relationship with Zidane.

Hanouna reported that the Real Madrid forward had asked to play in the first match of the international break before returning to his club. Zidane rejected the request and insisted that Mbappe remain with the national team until the end of the camp.

Mbappe did not play in the defeat by Italy but completed Friday’s training session, leaving open the possibility of his return against Turkey on Sunday, 15 November 2026.

Hanouna also claimed the dressing room had split into two groups, one centred around Mbappe and the other around Ousmane Dembele. He said the situation had left some players in a difficult position as they tried to deal with the presence of two separate factions within the squad.

No players have been identified as belonging to either group, and there has been no official confirmation that such a division exists.

The reports place Zidane under increased pressure before the meeting with Turkey. Criticism is now focused not only on the defeat by Italy, but also on his squad selections, his relationship with France’s captain and the administration of the camp. Whether Mbappe returns will be one of the main issues surrounding the match.