France will meet Turkey in Bordeaux on Sunday with a place in the quarterfinals within reach, but only if it gets the three points it now needs after its first defeat under Zinedine Zidane. The loss to Italy ended an unbeaten run that had carried France through three wins and one draw in the Nations League 2026/27.
The setback matters because it changed the shape of the race at the top. France is second with ten points, level with Italy and only ahead of Belgium, which is on nine after winning its match. That leaves Sunday as more than a routine home date for the Bleus; it is the quickest route to clearing the qualification line and avoiding a tighter finish in the final stretch.
Mike Maignan is still expected to start in goal, a role that has become harder to protect in recent weeks. He opened the competition with two straight clean sheets, but he has been beaten in the last three matches, a run that mirrors the shift in France’s form from control to pressure. Ahead of him, Malo Gusto is projected at right back, with Jérémy Jacquet and Dayot Upamecano at center back, as France tries to steady itself after the defeat to Italy.
That loss also removed the cushion France had built from its early results. It had entered the match against Italy unbeaten, but now the margin is thin: win against Turkey and the quarterfinal place is secured; fail to do so and the standings stay compressed with Italy and Belgium still in range. For France, Sunday in Bordeaux is not just the next fixture. It is the first chance to turn a surprise setback into a result that settles the race.
