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09/25 16:19 CDT France coach Zidane's first win soured by Mbapp injury, Italy
loses to Belgium in Nations League
France coach Zidane's first win soured by Mbapp injury, Italy loses to Belgium
in Nations League
By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
Zinedine Zidane's first game in charge of France ended on a sour note as Kylian
Mbapp was injured moments after scoring in a 1-0 win in Turkey.
The 2026 World Cup's best passer Michael Olise threaded a fine pass and the
World Cup's all-time leading scorer Mbapp rifled in a low shot in the 54th
minute.
Mbapp then sat on the ground clasping his left leg around the knee area and
within minutes Zidane had to take him off.
After failing to qualify for three straight World Cups, Italy's rebuild under
returning coach Roberto Mancini began badly with a 2-0 loss to Belgium in Rome.
Elsewhere, the Charles brothers combined to help Northern Ireland beat Georgia
1-0 in Tbilisi for a first-ever victory in League B.
Zidane's first lineup is a 4-3-3 Mbapp was on the left flank and fellow Ballon d'Or contender Ousmane Dembl through the middle, with Olise on the right wing and Manchester City's Rayan Cherki in midfield. A scrappy opening saw lots of botched passes from both sides, although the bumpy playing surface at Kocaeli Stadiuma stadium in Izmit was a factor. Near the end of the first half, Olise's dipping shot forced a fine save from U?urcan aklr and midfielder Adrien Rabiot scooped the ball over following fine work from Cherki and Dembl. France goalkeeper Mike Maignan matched aklr's save with a stunning one-handed stop from Ismail Yksek's downward header. aklr was then sent off in the 87th for blocking Bradley Barcola's shot with his arm when he was outside the area.
Fans stay away from Rome Only 47,155 spectators showed up in the 70,000-seat Stadio Olimpico as winger Mika Godts, signed by Paris Saint-Germain from Ajax in the offseason, scored for Belgium after 20 minutes with a low finish past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. A brilliant effort from Dodi Lukbakio following a run from the halfway line made it 2-0 midway through the second half.
Kvaratskhelia's slump continues Shea Charles scored deep into stoppage-time for Northern Ireland after younger brother Pierce Charles had saved Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's penalty midway through the second half. PSG star Kvaratskhelia has failed to score in the French league this season.
Other games In League B, Ukraine won 1-0 at Hungary thanks to forward Danylo Sikan's goal, while Sweden beat Romania 2-1 on goals from Liverpool striker Alexander Isak and Arsenal's Viktor Gykeres. Robert Lewandowski's Poland drew 0-0 at home to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Georgii Arutiunian and Artur Garibyan scored in Armenia's 2-0 win against Latvia and Montenegro beat Cyprus 2-1 in League C games. -__ See AP's full soccer coverage here
Zidane's first lineup is a 4-3-3 Mbapp was on the left flank and fellow Ballon d'Or contender Ousmane Dembl through the middle, with Olise on the right wing and Manchester City's Rayan Cherki in midfield. A scrappy opening saw lots of botched passes from both sides, although the bumpy playing surface at Kocaeli Stadiuma stadium in Izmit was a factor. Near the end of the first half, Olise's dipping shot forced a fine save from U?urcan aklr and midfielder Adrien Rabiot scooped the ball over following fine work from Cherki and Dembl. France goalkeeper Mike Maignan matched aklr's save with a stunning one-handed stop from Ismail Yksek's downward header. aklr was then sent off in the 87th for blocking Bradley Barcola's shot with his arm when he was outside the area.
Fans stay away from Rome Only 47,155 spectators showed up in the 70,000-seat Stadio Olimpico as winger Mika Godts, signed by Paris Saint-Germain from Ajax in the offseason, scored for Belgium after 20 minutes with a low finish past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. A brilliant effort from Dodi Lukbakio following a run from the halfway line made it 2-0 midway through the second half.
Kvaratskhelia's slump continues Shea Charles scored deep into stoppage-time for Northern Ireland after younger brother Pierce Charles had saved Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's penalty midway through the second half. PSG star Kvaratskhelia has failed to score in the French league this season.
Other games In League B, Ukraine won 1-0 at Hungary thanks to forward Danylo Sikan's goal, while Sweden beat Romania 2-1 on goals from Liverpool striker Alexander Isak and Arsenal's Viktor Gykeres. Robert Lewandowski's Poland drew 0-0 at home to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Georgii Arutiunian and Artur Garibyan scored in Armenia's 2-0 win against Latvia and Montenegro beat Cyprus 2-1 in League C games. -__ See AP's full soccer coverage here
