Paris watched Zinedine Zidane take charge at home for the first time with a warm ovation at the Stade de France, but France’s draw with Italy left the new coach frustrated after a late twist denied his side the result he felt they had earned.
A night of acclaim but no French victory
Zidane described the reception before kick-off as moving, though the occasion ended with regret as Italy recovered to make it 1-1. It was his first setback in charge of France, and the Marseille-born coach believed his players should have put the contest beyond reach before Alessandro Bastoni’s equaliser.
- France had the better of the opening half in possession, although Zidane felt that control did not create enough meaningful danger.
- At half-time, his staff sought to improve the use of the spaces available against Italy.
- France produced numerous chances, with Gianluigi Donnarumma making two or three outstanding saves.
- Italy offered limited attacking threat, in Zidane’s assessment, while defending in the characteristically cautious manner he associated with Italian football.
“I am very disappointed because we deserved more,” Zidane said. “We should have finished the match before it became 1-1. But I am proud of my players. The team performed very well and they were exemplary. I feel for them because they gave everything.”
He added that France had wanted to give the entire country a victory on his first home assignment, but could not deliver it.
Italy withstands French pressure
The coach felt France’s first-half possession had been sterile rather than decisive. The interval message was to turn territorial dominance into sharper attacking actions, particularly by exploiting gaps in the Italian shape.
“To hurt an opponent, you have to make use of the spaces,” Zidane said. “We organised ourselves well, while they played their own way, defensively, in the Italian style. They did not create much danger for us.”
Donnarumma’s interventions proved central to the outcome, with Zidane accepting that elite goalkeeping can change the direction of a match. He called on France to preserve the same standard, insisting the side will improve.
Late dismissal and backing for Da Cunha
France’s control was further disturbed by Dayot Upamecano’s sending-off in the closing moments. Zidane said the dismissal unsettled a team that had otherwise executed its work well across the match.
“When you have played well throughout and done things properly, a small setback can destabilise you a little,” he said.
The coach also offered firm support to Lucas Da Cunha, whose lost ball led to Bastoni’s equalising goal. The Como midfielder started again and retained Zidane’s confidence despite the costly error.
- Zidane said Da Cunha deserved both his France call-up and his place in the side.
- He praised the midfielder’s personality and willingness to receive and play under pressure.
- The France coach highlighted Da Cunha’s ability to thread passes and called him an interesting player.
“I like this player very much,” Zidane said. “He has a lot of personality, he is not afraid to play and he can find passes. He does everything I like.”
