Zidane's Home Debut Ends in 1-1 Draw Against Italy

Zinedine Zidane's first home match as France's head coach concluded in a 1-1 draw against Italy in the UEFA Nations League at Stade de France on October 2, 2026. Michael Olise opened the scoring for France with a free kick in the 55th minute, curving the ball from approximately 20 meters after a short free-kick routine orchestrated by Rayan Cherki. Italy equalized through a defensive lapse when centre-back Alessandro Bastoni scored a low shot that found the right corner of the goal.

The occasion held profound symbolic weight for the 54-year-old Zidane, who returned to the stadium where he scored France's opening goal at its inauguration in January 1998 and netted two headers in the 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil. This was his first encounter with Italy since his infamous headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final, which resulted in his red card in extra time of his final professional match. Despite the emotional reunion, France failed to secure victory against an organized Italian defense and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's strong performance.

Fans greeted Zidane with sustained acclaim: when the stadium announcer read his name, spectators erupted in approval and chanted "Zizou, Zizou"—his affectionate nickname among French supporters. Banners reading "Bienvenue Chez Toi" (Welcome Home) dotted the crowd, and a nearby train station announced over its public address system: "Welcome to Zinedine Zidane's first game in charge."

Zidane was appointed France coach after the World Cup, replacing Didier Deschamps. He had won his previous two Nations League matches by 1-0 scorelines away to Turkey and Belgium. For Italy's returning coach Roberto Mancini, this was his third match in his second tenure; his previous results included a 2-0 home loss to Belgium and a 4-1 victory away to Turkey. Zidane stated before the match: "Coming back here feels very emotional, and it will be more so when the stands are full of fans. There is no fear—if there were, I would not be here. I never thought about failure in my career; I only see opportunities. I have an extraordinary team, I am ready to make dreams come true, and I will give everything."