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Zidane's France Debut at Home Ends in 1-1 Draw Against Italy in Nations League
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News18•03-10-2026, 07:00
Zidane's France Debut at Home Ends in 1-1 Draw Against Italy in Nations League
- •Zinedine Zidane's first home game as France coach resulted in a 1-1 draw against Italy in the Nations League, despite France taking the lead.
- •Michael Olise scored for France in the 55th minute, but Alessandro Bastoni equalized for Italy midway through the second half.
- •Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma delivered a standout performance, making crucial saves to deny France multiple scoring opportunities.
- •Zidane expressed disappointment with the result but pride in his team's performance, noting they deserved better.
- •The match marked Zidane's first encounter with Italy since his infamous 2006 World Cup final headbutt, and he received a warm welcome from French fans at Stade de France.
Key Questions Answered
Zinedine Zidane's first home game in charge of France ended in a 1-1 draw against Italy in the Nations League at the Stade de France.
Michael Olise put France ahead in the 55th minute with a curling shot, while Italy equalized midway through the second half when central defender Alessandro Bastoni ran through to clip a low shot inside the right post.
Zinedine Zidane was appointed as the France national team coach after the World Cup, replacing Didier Deschamps.
