Under the lights at the Stade de France, Zinédine Zidane spoke of old triumphs, old wounds and a new responsibility as France prepared to face Italy on Friday night.
Key takeaways
- France will play Italy at the Stade de France on Friday, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45.
- Zidane said his squad had completed its preparations without any notable fitness concerns.
- Mohamed Sanhadji, expected to join the France staff, is absent after being placed under formal investigation on several charges.
- The France coach rejected the idea of a first-choice and reserve side among his 23 players.
- Zidane said he carries no regret over the 2006 World Cup final incident involving Marco Materazzi, while repeating that he is not proud of it.
Zidane returns to a stadium of defining memories
The France coach returns to Saint-Denis with the 1998 World Cup never far from view. His greatest memory at the stadium remains France’s 3-0 final victory over Brazil on 12 July 1998, when the hosts lifted the World Cup.
“Winning the World Cup, especially against Brazil, was a small dream,” Zidane said. “We made it happen.”
He described the prospect of meeting Italy in front of a home crowd as an emotional occasion, but insisted his attention was on the immediate task. France have prepared well, he said, and have no particular injury setbacks ahead of their third match.
Italy also brings Zidane back to the final game of his playing career: the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin. Images of his dismissal after the confrontation with Materazzi continue to circulate, he acknowledged, although he stressed that his career should not be reduced to that moment.
Zidane said he has not spoken again with Materazzi. He added that he does not regret the incident, even if he remains uncomfortable with his own behaviour. “It is part of my career,” he said. “I am not proud of what happened. I have said that before and I say it again.”
The former midfielder also recalled his first France goal at the Stade de France, scored against Spain in January 1998. He remembered freezing conditions and a hard pitch as France won 1-0 against a Spain side that had gone three years without defeat. Zidane initially cited 31 January, though the match was played on 28 January.
Staff absence and a collective selection call
Zidane was asked about Sanhadji, who had been due to work within his coaching team. Sanhadji has been formally investigated for alleged corruption, influence peddling and misuse of public funds, among other accusations.
The France coach made clear that he was unhappy about the situation, describing Sanhadji as someone he knows very well. He said the matter is now being handled by others and expressed hope that Sanhadji would be able to defend himself.
“With France, he did good things,” Zidane said. “That is what I choose to remember.”
On the pitch, Zidane expects a demanding test from Italy and warned that a single match can turn in any direction. He dismissed suggestions that facing the Azzurri might add a special personal edge, placing the emphasis instead on his players’ readiness.
There will be no distinction between an “A team” and a “B team”, he said. All 23 members of the group are considered available to start, with Zidane responsible for using them in the best way possible.
He said every player had impressed him, particularly through their work rate and willingness to listen. The harmony within the squad, he added, is invaluable to a coach.
Zidane also said fear of failure has never driven his career. Managing France had long been a personal ambition, and he vowed to give everything to the role. His coaching influences include Marcello Lippi, his former Juventus manager, but Zidane said he has taken lessons from every coach he worked under rather than attempting to copy any one of them.
