France manager Zinédine Zidane made his highly anticipated return to the Stade de France on Friday, October 2, 2026, leading Les Bleus to a 1–1 draw against Italy in the Nations League. Twenty years after his final professional appearance as a player against Mexico at the Saint-Denis venue, the 1998 Ballon d’Or winner stood on the touchline as supporters chanted his name and unfurled a red, white, and blue tifo bearing his famous nickname.
Following victories earlier in the campaign against Turkey and Belgium, France maintained an unbeaten start under their coach despite missing injured captain Kylian Mbappé. Yet Alessandro Bastoni’s second-half equalizer canceled out Michael Olise’s opener, leaving Zidane to reflect on a performance that failed to yield a complete victory.
Zidane Returns to Saint-Denis Amid a Hero’s Welcome
The Stade de France holds a status in French football history, closely intertwined with Zidane’s playing career. From scoring the opening goal against Spain on January 28, 1998, to his final appearance against Mexico on May 27, 2006, the stadium in Saint-Denis has served as a backdrop for his career. Stepping out in a managerial capacity for the first time on home soil, the former number 10 was greeted by roaring crowds waving patriotic displays dedicated to “Zizou.”
The fixture arrived twenty years after the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, which pitted France against the Squadra Azzurra. While the stakes differed in this third Nations League encounter, the emotional resonance of facing Italy once again in France added historical weight to the fixture.
Olise Breaks the Deadlock Before Bastoni Responds
France controlled long stretches of the opening half but struggled to unlock a disciplined Italian defense. Italy nearly struck first in the ninth minute when Moise Kean missed an open opportunity against French goalkeeper Mike Maignan following a slick pass from Michael Kayode. Two minutes before the break, Davide Frattesi received a long throw-in at the heart of the penalty area and struck a shot that was deflected by Jérémy Jacquet. Just before halftime, Kean found the back of the net, only for the referee to signal an offside infraction in the 42nd minute.
The breakthrough arrived in the 55th minute when Michael Olise curled a free-kick past Gianluigi Donnarumma under the crossbar, sending the home supporters into raptures. Olise had earlier troubled the Italian defense by hitting the crossbar in the 23rd minute, alongside Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé, whose attacking sequences tested the former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper when Doué fired a powerful shot from the edge of the area and Dembélé followed up in the 48th minute.
However, Italy capitalized on a defensive lapse in the 68th minute. After Lucas Da Cunha miscontrolled a ball, Alessandro Bastoni pounced on the loose ball, drove forward, and slotted past Maignan to silence the Stade de France and seal the 1–1 draw.
Reaction From the French Camp
Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, France manager Zinédine Zidane expressed mixed feelings regarding the performance and the final scoreline.
“I’m happy with the content but not the result. But I’m proud of my players all the same,” Zidane said. “We managed the first half well, but we lacked depth. In the second half, we put the Italians in more difficulty. We would have liked to win for our public. We created quite a few chances, and we must emphasize that the opposing goalkeeper was good on several occasions. We must continue to work; I know that we will continue to improve. In any case, I was delighted to find the Stade de France.”
The result leaves France to build on their earlier momentum as the Nations League schedule continues.
