On Friday, the Italian national team put an end to Zinedine Zidane's ideal start as coach of the French national team when they forced a 1-1 draw in their European Nations League match at the Stade de France, where the Roosters played with ten players in the final minutes of the match.
Published on: 10/03/2026 - 11:08 Last updated: 10/03/2026 - 11:31
On Friday, the Italian team tied its host, the French team, with a score of one to one in their match in the European Nations League at the Stade de France, where the hosts played with ten players in the final minutes.
With this result, the Italian team puts an end to Zinedine Zidane's ideal start as coach of the French team, as France won 1-0 away from Turkey and Belgium in Zidane's first two matches.
Zidane's first home match as a coach was against the same team he faced in his last international match as a player.
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The 2006 World Cup final, which Italy won on penalties, will forever be etched in memory due to Zidane's headbutt to Marco Materazzi's chest, which led to Zidane receiving a red card in extra time.
France dominated possession early in the match, trapping the visitors in their own half.
Italy had the first opportunity when Moise Kean failed to score from inside the penalty area, as he shot the ball directly at goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Despite the French's smooth passes and attacking play, a cross from Olisey deflected off its path and hit the crossbar, which was the team's closest scoring chance in the first half.
But it was Italy who created more danger before the break, as Davide Fratesi's goal-bound shot collided with a French player and went into a corner.
Shortly after the start of the second half, the French team finally put pressure on Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Italian goalkeeper blocked Desiree Dowie's shot from a long distance, then regained his balance in time to block Ousmane Dembélé's rebound shot from a very close range.
Donnarumma returned to his brilliance moments later, as he pounced to block a curling shot from Olise, while France entered the second half in full force and scored the first goal from a free kick.
Read also: France defeats Belgium with a fatal goal and leads its group in the European Nations League
Rayyan Chergui passed the ball to Olissi, who fired a shot that could not be blocked, but it hit the crossbar, but France failed to settle the match in its favor, and a defensive error allowed the visitors to score the equalizer in the 68th minute.
France tried to build the attack from the back, but Lucas da Cunha failed to control the pass, so Bastoni pounced and moved forward before shooting the ball past Maignan.
Eduardo Camavinga forced goalkeeper Donnarumma to make a brilliant save late in the match, before Dayo Upamecano received a second yellow card, leaving France playing with ten men for the final five minutes.
France 24/AFP
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