Coach Zidane draws 1-1 with Italy in return match after 20 years

France drew 1-1 with Italy in the third home match of Group 1 of the 2026-2027 UEFA Nations League (UNL) League A held at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France on the morning of the 3rd (Korean time).

As a result, France, which had won 1-0 in away games against Turkye and Belgium, maintained its lead in the group by remaining undefeated with 2 wins and 1 loss (7 points).

Italy, where coach Roberto Mancini took over again after three years, was in third place with 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss (4 points).

This day's game was a meaningful one for coach Zidane, who took over as coach of the French national team as coach Didier Deschamps' successor last July after completing the 2026 North and Central America World Cup.

It was his first home game since taking office as national team coach, and it was his first time as a coach in 20 years against Italy, his last opponent as a player.

Coach Zidane was sent off during extra time of the 2006 Germany World Cup final against Italy for a so-called 'headbutting incident' in which he struck opposing defender Marco Materazzi's chest with his head, and France lost in a penalty shootout and had to be satisfied with second place.

At the time, the game against Italy was the last game of Coach Zidane's brilliant career as a player.

The Stade de France is also a place that Coach Zidane has a special connection with.

Coach Zidane scored the stadium's first goal in a friendly match against Spain held to commemorate the opening of the Stade de France in January 1998. And in the final of the World Cup held in France in the same year, he scored two goals with a powerful header against Brazil, leading to a 3-0 victory and France's first-ever World Cup victory.

On Zidane's first visit as coach of the French national team, the Stade de France was filled with about 77,000 spectators.

After both teams' starting lists were announced, the stadium announcer called Zidane's name, and the fans immediately chanted his nickname, 'Zizou.' A banner reading ‘Welcome back home’ also appeared in the stands.

France went on the offensive by increasing possession of the ball from the beginning of the game, but was unable to easily open the goal due to a save by opposing goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. In the 23rd minute of the first half, Michael Olise's cross was deflected by the defense and hit the crossbar.

Rather, Italy looked more threatening at the end of the first half.

It was in the 10th minute of the second half that the balance was lost. When Rayan Sherki gave up a free kick taken on the right side of the opponent's penalty area, Olise curled the kick with his left foot, and the ball hit the crossbar and fell into the goal.

Olise, who scored the winning goal against Belgium with a left-foot finish following a fantastic dribble, scored goals in two consecutive games.

However, France made a defensive mistake and allowed Italy to equalize in the 23rd minute of the second half.

During the build-up process, when Luca da Cunha failed to properly control the pass, Italian central defender Alessandro Bastoni rushed in in an instant, intercepted the ball, and hit the French net with a left-footed shot from near the penalty arc.

There were no additional goals after that.

France had to fight with 10 men for the remaining time as central defender Dayot Upamecano was sent off in the 40th minute of the second half after receiving a second yellow card.

Belgium, in the same group, invited Türkiye to their home and defeated them 3-0.

Kevin De Bruyne led the way to Belgium's victory by scoring multiple goals, scoring the first goal in the 10th minute of the first half and an additional goal in the 14th minute of the second half.

Substitute Romelu Lukaku scored his 94th international goal in the 31st minute of the second half.

Belgium chased after France with 2 wins and 1 loss (6 points).

Turkye, who suffered three consecutive losses, was at the bottom of the group.