Nations League: Zidane returns to Stade de France as France faces off against Italy.
On Friday, October 2, Zinédine Zidane returned to the French public at the Stade de France as the coach of Les Bleus. After two victories in the Nations League, one against Turkey and the other against Belgium, France drew 1-1 with Italy. Michael Olise opened the scoring in the second half, while Alessandro Bastoni equalized.
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From the Stade de France,
Memories, memories. The Stade de France is to Zinedine Zidane what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. On Friday, October 2, the former number 10 reappeared in Saint-Denis as a coach, in a city that helped shape his image.
The double scorer in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil has experienced it all at the "SDF". From his winning shot against Spain in the opening match on January 28, 1998, to his last appearance against Mexico on May 27, 2006, just before ending his playing career at the World Cup in Germany.
The reunion between the native of the northern neighborhoods of Marseille and the French public was highly anticipated. Chants of "Zizou, Zizou" echoed in the stands, accompanied by a tifo in the blue-white-red colors in his honor.
After a perfect start on the bench of Les Bleus with two victories in two matches against Turkey and Belgium, the 1998 Ballon d'Or hoped to extend his winning streak against Italy in this third Nations League match, despite the absence of his captain Kylian Mbappé, who scored against the Turks but had to leave the squad due to a left knee injury.
The Italian defense long neutralized the French attack
In the first half, Italy nearly opened the scoring in the 9th minute with Moïse Kean. The Como forward missed a golden opportunity against Mike Maignan after a pass from Michael Kayode. In the excitement of the Stade, Michael Olise, who had scored against Belgium after coming on late, hit the crossbar in the 23rd minute, marking the first chance for Les Bleus. A few minutes before halftime, Italy saw a goal from Kean, who was forgotten behind the French defense, ruled out for offside (42nd). Two minutes earlier, from a long throw-in, Davide Frattesi received the ball in the heart of the box and shot, but his effort was deflected by Jérémy Jacquet.
While the Italian defense contained the French attack for a long time, it was in the 55th minute that the supporters of the Stade de France erupted with joy as Michael Olise opened the scoring, sending the ball under the crossbar of Gianluigi Donnarumma from a free kick. The Italian goalkeeper had already had to intervene on a powerful shot from Désiré Doué at the edge of the box and made another save against Ousmane Dembélé, who followed up (48th). The former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper finally succumbed to the intensity of Les Bleus.
Hurt but not defeated, Italy pulled one back at the Stade de France, equalizing after a missed control by Lucas Da Cunha. Alessandro Bastoni emerged from behind to take the ball and score past Maignan (68th). Twenty years after his header in the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, where Les Bleus faced the Squadra Azzurra, this reunion at the Stade de France did not taste like victory for Zidane, but it was warmly welcomed.
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