Zinédine Zidane and Mark van Bommel both made winning starts to their international coaching careers as the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League kicked off on Friday, with France edging Türkiye away and Belgium ending more than five decades of frustration against Italy.

In Kocaeli, Zidane’s first match in charge of Les Bleus stayed goalless through the opening 45 minutes as Türkiye’s disciplined defensive block frustrated the visitors. Defender Jules Koundé said the coach urged patience at the break, instructing the side to keep the ball moving and trust the game plan rather than force things, a approach that eventually wore down the hosts and opened up spaces in behind.

Captain Kylian Mbappé provided the breakthrough with the only goal of the game, though the celebrations were tempered when the forward was forced off shortly afterward, visibly in discomfort, and replaced by Désiré Doué. Zidane, who returns to management for the first time since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, described the emotions of the night as significant, praising his side’s high pressing and aggressive approach to winning back possession as an encouraging sign for the campaign ahead.

In Rome, Van Bommel’s Belgium delivered a statement victory over Roberto Mancini’s Italy, winning 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico to record their first competitive success over the Azzurri since a European Championship play-off back in May 1972, snapping a winless run stretching over fifty years. Mika Godts opened the scoring in the first half with his first senior international goal, finishing off a pass from Kevin De Bruyne after Belgium had dominated the early exchanges and tested goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma repeatedly. Italy pushed for an equaliser after the break, but the chances they created only opened space for Belgium to counter, and substitute Dodi Lukébakio settled the contest with a driving solo run from outside the box and a powerful finish beyond Donnarumma.

Van Bommel, taking his first job since leaving Antwerp two years ago, said he had been struck by how well his players had already gelled after only a few days together, and credited a set of second-half changes with helping the team see out the win without conceding.

The result compounds a difficult return to the Italy dugout for Mancini, who oversaw the country’s Euro 2020 triumph but now takes charge of a side still processing missing out on the 2026 World Cup. Both group leaders will be back in action shortly, with France and Belgium set to face each other on Monday while Italy look to bounce back against Türkiye.

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