Zinédine Zidane and the Blues return to the Stade de France for a shock against Italy

Zinédine Zidane is impatiently awaiting this moment. For ages. And he doesn't hide it. Neither did the French supporters, who snatched up the 80,000 seats at the Stade de France for the return of the legend to his garden in Saint-Denis. France-Italy is this evening at 8:45 p.m. in the selection area.

“ZZ” has not set foot there with the Blues jersey on his back since May 27, 2006 against Mexico (1-0), a friendly played before the World Cup and a sadly legendary outcome with the headbutt to Marco Matterrazi against Italy in the final. Twenty years later, the 54-year-old legend returns to a venue he knows by heart, still against Italy (8:45 p.m.), but this time in the coach's suit. The emotions will be there. For him. His loved ones. And a whole country. The story between the legend and France continues.

“This stadium is special, with everything we have experienced here,” admits the double Z, who never hid his joy and impatience on Thursday in the “SDF” auditorium before the big evening. We want to continue writing our history with the France team. » He knows it by heart, between the first bit scored in Saint-Denis, by his care against Spain on a freezing evening of January 28, 1998, his expulsion against Saudi Arabia at the World Cup, the Homeric quarter-final against Italy and of course his legendary double against Brazil on a July 12 engraved for eternity. “Coming back here, as you can imagine, is a big emotion, but it will be even more so on Friday with the public,” he whispers with a smile and all modesty.

After the good score of its troops against Belgium (0-1) on Monday, despite nine changes in its starting team, the French team offers itself a gala performance against the Italians who no longer scare anyone (3 failed World Cups in a row) but whose myth continues to speak to everyone (4 stars won in 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006). A defeat against Belgium (0-2), a victory against Turkey (1-4), Roberto Mancini's men are unfathomable. But far from being big names with a generation that makes no one dream and few Italians could today claim a place in the France group.

To make it three after Turkey and Belgium, and to have a final match on Monday against the Red Devils for the full card, Zidane has his plan well in mind. All week, based on videos, discussions and setups, he once again insisted on the desire to impose his game. The 4-3-3, technical elements in midfield, a certain idea of ​​football.

The return of Dembélé, the madness of Olise, the nerve of the rookies… The Blues have everything to ignite Saint-Denis

The return of executives like Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise and Adrien Rabiot, preserved in Brussels, is expected. The unknowns rest on the presence or not of the “surprises” Jérémy Jacquet and Lucas Da Cunha, attractive on Monday and who are applying again for a starting place.

“We are ready, we have prepared well for this third match and there are no glitches, it’s great,” says the coach, who did not hide the pleasure felt Thursday when stepping onto the pitch at the Stade de France. A childish look. An assumed joy. And the desire to be up to the challenge for the first match of the French team in Saint-Denis since March 2025. The new “ZZ” era is making a stopover at the house of the Blues. Impossible to do better as a symbol. Make way for the thrills.