Zidane Returns to Stade de France as France Coach Against Italy
The 1998 World Cup hero makes his home debut as manager in a sold-out Nations League clash.
KEY POINTS
- Zidane coaches first home game at Stade de France vs Italy in Nations League
- France won opening two matches under Zidane: 1-0 in Turkey, 1-0 in Belgium
- Stadium sold out (80,000) for coach's return to 1998 World Cup final venue
- Kylian Mbappé withdrew with left knee injury after scoring in Turkey
- Zidane appointed July 28, succeeding Didier Deschamps
Zinédine Zidane will coach France at the Stade de France for the first time on Friday evening as Les Bleus host Italy in the Nations League. The match marks his return to the stadium where he scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final and netted the winner at the venue's inauguration in 1998.
France arrives with two wins from two matches under Zidane, including a 1-0 victory in Turkey on September 25 and a 1-0 win in Belgium three days later with a heavily rotated squad. The 80,000 tickets sold out in under 24 hours.
“It's a huge emotion. We want to continue writing another page, another story.”
Captain Kylian Mbappé, who scored in Turkey, left the camp due to a left knee injury but the team maintained its winning momentum. Zidane said the return represents a "huge emotion" and a desire to write a new chapter.
Vice-captain Ousmane Dembélé described the coach as having "incredible desire" without being vengeful, calling it an immense pleasure to be trained by an absolute legend.
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