France 2-1 Türkiye: Kroupi's first international goal seals top spot for Zidane's side

France secured top spot in Group A1 of the Nations League with a narrow 2-1 victory over Türkiye at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux on Sunday, with Junior Kroupi netting his first international goal.

Zinedine Zidane asked for a strong response from his side after suffering the first defeat of his tenure against Italy last time out, and France asserted themselves from the outset as Adrien Rabiot stung Berke Özer's palms with a fierce strike just five minutes in, before Rayan Cherki went close twice in quick succession.

Bradley Barcola squandered France's best chance of the half in the 21st minute, latching onto a neat pass from Lucas Da Cunha, but the Liverpool winger failed to lift his finish over Özer.

Türkiye were forced to withstand further pressure from the relentless hosts, with Barcola, the fit-again Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise all testing Özer as the half wore on.

The visitors' best opportunity arrived in the 36th minute when Can Uzun's lofted pass found İsmail Yüksek in space, but the midfielder failed to power his effort past an out-of-position Mike Maignan.

Mbappé had the ball in the net three minutes later after controlling Ibrahima Konaté's pass, rounding Özer and slotting home, but the goal was swiftly disallowed for offside.

Those missed opportunities did not prove costly, though, as France took the lead four minutes after the restart, albeit fortuitously, when Emirhan Topçu turned the ball into his own net in a goalmouth scramble.

Arda Güler thought he had drawn Türkiye level moments later, thumping home from Konaté's half-clearance amid a goalmouth scramble, but it was disallowed following a VAR review, with Barış Alper Yılmaz caught offside in the build-up.

And France doubled their lead 10 minutes from time as Rayan Cherki split the Türkiye defence with a superb through-ball for substitute Kroupi, who calmly side-footed a low finish past Özer.

Abdülkerim Bardakcı pulled one back for Türkiye at the death, powering home a header, but it proved little more than consolation for the visitors, who finish bottom of the group, while France can look forward to the quarter-finals.

France find a way as Özer offers resistance

France were made to work for their victory, with Özer producing an impressive display between the posts to frustrate the hosts.

Zidane's side created plenty of chances, yet they relied on a slice of good luck for their opener, before Kroupi finished the job.

Had France had their shooting boots on in the first half, it would likely have been a far more comfortable evening.

Barcola, in particular, will rue his missed opportunities.