Zinédine Zidane’s France will host Italy at 20:45 on Friday, a first home match for the new coach and another chapter in one of international football’s most charged rivalries.
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France and Italy have met 41 times, producing World Cup drama, European finals and nights in Paris that have stayed in the memory for decades. Their latest meeting comes with Zidane beginning his spell in charge, but the history between the two teams offers a reminder of how quickly these fixtures can turn.
One of France’s most significant wins came at the Parc des Princes in 1982. Les Bleus had not defeated Italy since 1920, a 62-year wait that ended in a friendly through Michel Platini and Daniel Bravo.
Platini struck after 19 minutes, before Bravo, only 19 and making his first appearance for France, sealed a 2-0 victory six minutes from time. He had entered in the 66th minute and would go on to win 12 further caps, without scoring another international goal. Italy later lifted the World Cup in Spain that year, while France were beaten in the semi-finals.
The 1998 World Cup quarter-final at the Stade de France brought a different kind of tension. France and Italy could not be separated after 120 minutes, leaving the hosts to face a penalty shoot-out on the way to their eventual triumph.
Fabien Barthez, then of Monaco, stopped Demetrio Albertini’s effort before Luigi Di Biagio struck the crossbar. Robert Pirès later recalled that goalkeeper coach Philippe Bergeroo was speaking to Barthez, but that the goalkeeper appeared to be listening only partly. Pirès said Barthez seemed so calm that he could have stopped for a coffee before the shoot-out.
France won 4-3 on penalties and reached the semi-finals. Barthez remained impassive on his line, seemingly unaware at first that the contest had ended.
Two years later, France won the European Championship final against Italy in Rotterdam with an extraordinary late recovery. Marco Delvecchio put Italy ahead in the 55th minute and the Italians were close to revenge for the 1998 defeat.
Sylvain Wiltord changed the outcome in the fourth minute of stoppage time, forcing extra time. Roger Lemerre’s substitutes then decided the final: Pirès, introduced in the 86th minute after Marcel Desailly challenged him to prove what he could do, beat two defenders and created the opening for David Trezeguet. The striker’s golden goal secured a 2-1 win and a historic World Cup-European Championship double for France.
The 2006 World Cup final remains the most painful meeting for France. It was Zidane’s final match for the national side, and he gave Les Bleus an early lead with a Panenka penalty in the seventh minute. Marco Materazzi headed Italy level 12 minutes later.
In extra time, an exchange between Zidane and Materazzi escalated after the Italian defender responded to a question about the Frenchman’s shirt with an insult aimed at Zidane’s sister. Zidane reacted by headbutting Materazzi and was sent off shortly before the penalty shoot-out.
Trezeguet, the match-winner in 2000, was the only player to miss in the shoot-out as his attempt hit the bar. Italy won 5-3 on penalties to become world champions.
The most recent landmark encounter came in the Nations League at the Parc des Princes in 2024. Bradley Barcola scored after only 12 seconds, his first France goal and the quickest registered by Les Bleus across the previous 90 years.
France nevertheless lost 3-1. Federico Dimarco equalised in the 30th minute, Davide Frattesi put Italy ahead six minutes after the break and Giacomo Raspadori added a third in the 74th minute. It was Italy’s first victory in Paris since 1954, ending a 70-year wait.
France answered in the return fixture in Milan, winning by the same 3-1 scoreline.
The next appointment in France
Zidane now takes charge of his first home match as France coach when Italy arrive on Friday at 20:45. The occasion will bring together two teams whose meetings have repeatedly carried more than the weight of an ordinary international fixture.
