Zidane Makes Home Coaching Return as France Face Italy in Nations League

Zinedine Zidane took charge of France for his first home match on Friday, October 2, 2026, when Les Bleus hosted Italy at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis in Matchday 3 of UEFA Nations League Group A1. Kickoff was set for 20:45 local time (18:45 UTC), with Spain's Jesus Gil Manzano as referee, according to match details reported by Goal.com. The game reunited Zidane with Italy for the first time since his playing career ended with a red card in the 2006 World Cup final.

A coaching return five years in the making

Zidane was appointed France head coach on July 28, 2026, on a four-year contract, replacing Didier Deschamps, who had led the team for 14 years since 2012, ESPN reported. Deschamps had already announced he would step down after the 2026 World Cup, where France lost 2-0 to Spain in the semi-finals and then 6-4 to England in the third-place playoff. At his unveiling, FFF president Philippe Diallo called the appointment 'an exceptional moment,' and Zidane said he had turned down other offers during his five years out of coaching because the France job 'was the only thing I wanted,' per ESPN.

Zidane had been out of work since resigning as Real Madrid coach in May 2021. Speaking to the Associated Press ahead of the Italy match, he said of that departure: 'Yes, because I didn't know I was going to become coach. So for me it was the end, and I can say things were very, very difficult,' according to a report carried by Click Orlando.

Two wins before Paris

Zidane's first match in charge was a 1-0 away win over Turkey on September 26 at Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, with Kylian Mbappe scoring in the 54th minute before being substituted, according to a report republished by The Express Tribune. Zidane said afterward that Mbappe had 'overextended his knee while shooting' and would likely have to leave the squad. Sports World News later reported that Mbappe, now playing for Real Madrid, had suffered a hyperextended posterior capsule in his left knee and was ruled out for the rest of the international window, with Ousmane Dembele called up to replace him in the squad.

France's second match brought a 1-0 win away to Belgium on September 28 at Stade Roi Baudouin in Brussels, decided by a Michael Olise goal in the 88th minute, Get French Football News reported. Zidane used the game to test fringe players, including several uncapped debutants, while keeping France's perfect start intact.

Italy's own campaign began with a 2-0 home loss to Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico, with Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio scoring, per the Express Tribune report. Roberto Mancini's side then beat Turkey 4-1, with Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi and debutant Michael Kayode scoring in the first half and Sebastiano Esposito adding a second-half goal, Yahoo Sports (Canada) reported; Turkey's Kerem Akturkoglu/Yilmaz scored a consolation goal.

Twenty years after the headbutt

Zidane's last act as a player was a headbutt to the chest of Italy defender Marco Materazzi in extra time of the 2006 World Cup final, which earned him a red card; Italy went on to win the penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw, ESPN reported. Asked about the incident ahead of the Nations League reunion, Zidane said he carries no regrets.

Zidane added that the moment does not define his career, noting there are 'other images' of him he prefers to think about, Italian outlet Il Post reported from his pre-match comments. Asked by the Associated Press, via Click Orlando, whether he and Materazzi had spoken since 2006, Zidane replied simply: 'No...Not at all.'

Mancini's rebuilding project

Italy coach Roberto Mancini, in his second spell in charge after winning Euro 2020, is trying to rebuild a squad that failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, The National reported. After the opening loss to Belgium drew heavy criticism, Mancini struck a measured tone about his team's progress.

• Nine Italy players stayed at Coverciano for a separate training programme instead of travelling to Paris: Honest Ahanor, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Diego Coppola, Daniele Ghilardi, Samuele Inacio, Eddy Kouadio, Rolando Mandragora, Massimo Pessina and Alessandro Romano, per Goal.com.
• Nicolo Barella and Daniel Maldini returned to the squad after missing the win over Turkey, Goal.com reported.
• France went into the match without Mbappe, sidelined for the window with a knee injury, with Dembele deputising, according to Sports World News.

Going into the Stade de France meeting, France topped Group A1 on six points from two wins, with Italy level with Belgium on three points and Turkey without a point from two matches, based on the results of the opening two matchdays. The fixture marked the first time France and Italy had met in the UEFA Nations League; the two sides had faced each other 41 times overall, with Italy leading 19 wins to 12 and 10 draws, according to live-match data compiled by Vavel.