Michael Olise scored a spectacular free-kick goal but France were held to a 1-1 draw by Italy on Friday in Zinedine Zidane's first home game as coach of Les Bleus in the UEFA Nations League.
The match at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis drew a packed crowd of 77,118, with Zidane's homecoming carrying added symbolic weight. His last appearance at the ground as a player came in a friendly against Mexico in May 2006, when he won his 100th cap. Weeks later, he was sent off for an infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, a match Italy won on penalties. He never played again.
Now 54, Zidane had won his first two games in charge, including a 1-0 victory in Belgium four days earlier in which Olise came off the bench to score a stunning solo effort. The Bayern Munich forward retained his place in the starting lineup on Friday, one of six changes from the Belgium game.
France dominated large stretches of the match, particularly after the break. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy's captain, was repeatedly called into action, saving from Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, and Olise before the opener arrived on 55 minutes.
Olise broke the deadlock by smashing a shot in off the crossbar from a free kick, after Rayan Cherki laid off the dead ball. It was another moment of individual brilliance from the forward, who has quickly established himself as a key figure under Zidane.
Italy had their own chances before falling behind. Moise Kean should have given the visitors an early lead following a sweeping move, but his finish was saved by Mike Maignan. Kean also had a goal disallowed for offside, and Davide Frattesi came close in the first half.
The equaliser came when Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni intercepted Lucas Da Cunha in possession just outside the France penalty area and converted with a straightforward finish to level the score midway through the second half.
Donnarumma continued to frustrate the hosts after the equaliser, saving from Adrien Rabiot and twice from Eduardo Camavinga as France pressed for a winner.
France's evening was further complicated when defender Dayot Upamecano was shown a second yellow card on 85 minutes and sent off.
The result means France lead UEFA Nations League Group A1 with seven points. Belgium are second on six points after a 3-0 win over Turkiye. Italy have four points and will host Turkiye in their next fixture. France and Belgium meet on Monday in the final match of the current two-week international window.
Zidane was without captain Kylian Mbappe, who returned to Real Madrid after suffering a knee injury while scoring the winner against Turkiye the previous week. New faces Jeremy Jacquet, the Liverpool defender, and Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha featured again for France.
Italy are rebuilding under Roberto Mancini, who has returned for a second spell as coach of a side that has failed to qualify for the last three World Cups. Despite the draw, they will consider the result a positive one given France's dominance for much of the match.
Zidane, meanwhile, is working to shape the France team with one eye on Euro 2028, the next major tournament on the horizon.
