League of Nations: Italy hooks the Blues at the Stade de France for the return of Zidane

Traveling to the Stade de France on Friday evening as part of the Nations League, Italy managed to hold on to the Blues (1-1).

A first hitch for the new coach Zinédine Zidane after two victories to inaugurate his functions, in Türkiye, then in Belgium.

And a source of pride for the Italian media who are boasting after this good result taken from their neighbor.

“An Italy of great pragmatism, a team like we haven’t seen for a long time,” explains the Gazetta dello sport before adding: “Zidane’s France was magnificent, incredibly strong and incredibly talented before the match, but it suffers from certain limits linked to its greatness, its history, and perhaps it underestimated us.”

This good result from the Squadra Azzurra allows the daily to affirm that Mancini, the Italian coach, has “put an end to the Zizou phenomenon” whose series of victories ends after three matches.

“Zidane welcomed like a demigod”

Tuttosport was no less complimentary of the Transalpine team, giving Donnarumma a score of 9 out of 10, impressive in the visiting team's goal.

The media also gives a score of 7 to Zidane, “welcomed like a demigod at the Stade de France” by judging Truffert as “the weak point” of the Tricolores.

There is still talk of Donnarumma in La Repubblica which salutes Donnarumma's “monumental” match.

La Corriere della Sera even calls him a “superhero”.

“At the dawn of this new adventure, Mancini found reassuring solutions and spoiled Zidane’s debut at home,” rejoices the newspaper.

In France, “A jewel and a blunder” headlines L’Equipe on the performance of the Blues, highlighting the “fairly poor first period” of the semi-finalists of the 2026 World Cup.

“The Blues tarnished the return of Zinédine Zidane to the Stade de France by conceding an avoidable draw against Italy. Offensively, the fireworks will wait,” underlines Vincent Duluc.

The daily gives a rating of 3 to Ousmane Dembélé, once again disappointing, and 5 to Zidane.

Dembélé targets criticism

The Parisian striker's performance was also singled out by Le Figaro, which described the Ballon d'Or evening as "another failure".

“It is clear that there is a world of difference between Dembélé in the club and that of the national team. Friday, against Italy (1-1), Dembouz once again remained silent. 13 goals in 70 caps for the native of Vernon (Eure), who nevertheless had a golden opportunity at the start of the second half, coming up against his former teammate in Paris, Gigio Donnarumma,” we can read in our columns.

Your daily newspaper also considers the “logical null” after having seen the Blues “winded and uninspired.”

“A spark and a little point”, headlines Le Parisien, which praises a “bluffing” Jacquet and an “elusive” Olise but gives a score of 4 to Da Cunha, guilty of a rough control which cost the Blues the equalizer.

“If France dominated the first act, it barely made the Italians and Donnarumma tremble, apart from a cross from Olise deflected onto the bar (23'). But to dominate is not to score…” regrets Ouest France, speechless at Olise’s goal, described as “an illumination”.

“A first brake” for Zidane, notes Sud Ouest which noted that the atmosphere “fell very (too) quickly” after “the earthquake during the announcement” of the name of Zinédine Zidane.

“Zidane had a difficult return home. Even Olise's masterpiece was not enough to preserve the French coach's invincibility,” analyzes Marca, who believes that the Blues lacked the “explosive speed with which Mbappé is so well endowed.”

The Spanish daily adds: “Olise and Cherki reached the edge of the area with ease and speed, but their attacks bogged down. Lots of intensity and pace, but no clear opportunity for Dembélé.”

Zidane, “the return of the legend to his temple”

“France lost control of the match after the break. This team shines more when it has space, especially during frenetic encounters where the midfield is disorganized,” notes the AS competitor who dwells on Zidane’s “wasted return” to the Stade de France:

“The return of Zidane dominated everything. The French legend, back in his temple, in the stadium that he himself inaugurated with a goal against Spain 28 years ago, received a deafening ovation from a Stade de France which had been waiting for this moment for two decades.