Zidane Set for First Stade de France Match as France Boss Against Italy
Zinedine Zidane will take charge of France at the Stade de France for the first time on Friday, when Italy visit in the UEFA Nations League. The new France manager returns to the national home stadium after succeeding Didier Deschamps in late July, with his side having won their first two group matches 1-0 away from home.
The fixture also brings Zidane up against Italy, the nation involved in the final game of his playing career. France lost the 2006 World Cup final on penalties after Zidane had been dismissed in extra time for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the chest.
Quick facts
- France host Italy at the Stade de France on Friday.
- Zidane’s team have begun their Nations League campaign with two 1-0 away wins.
- Kylian Mbappe is unavailable after withdrawing with a knee injury.
- The Stade de France crowd is expected to be close to 80,000.
- Zidane last played at the stadium in a 2006 friendly against Mexico.
Asked on Thursday about the incident which ended his international playing career, Zidane said he was not proud of his actions but did not regret them. He confirmed that he has not spoken to Materazzi since the World Cup final.
“I’m not proud of what I did and I have always said that, but I have no regrets,” Zidane said. “It is part of my career. Fortunately, it was not everything I did in my career. There were positive, enjoyable moments and those are the ones I choose to remember. A career cannot be made up entirely of great moments.”
The 2006 final remains one of football’s most replayed moments, but Zidane sought to place it within the wider context of a career that included major honours for club and country. Italy went on to claim the World Cup after the shootout.
His immediate focus is now on consolidating France’s position at the top of Nations League Group A. Mbappe’s knee problem removes a major attacking option, though Zidane stressed that the remaining 23 players in his squad give him sufficient depth.
Friday’s match will be Zidane’s first home assignment as France coach and a major early test against elite opposition. A victory over Italy would preserve the perfect start while giving the new manager another step in establishing his approach without several key figures available.
