Twenty years after the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, Zinedine Zidane prepares to face Italy for the first time as head coach of France, returning to the Stade de France where 80,000 spectators are expected for Friday’s match, as reported by gazzetta.it. The match brings the newly appointed Les Bleus boss face-to-face with the nation against which he ended his playing career following a red card for headbutting Marco Materazzi.
Zidane Confronts the Berlin Legacy
The incident in 2006 ended Zidane’s international career after 108 appearances and a career featuring four matches against the Azzurri, beginning with a 2-2 draw in a 1997 pre-World Cup tournament opened by his own goal. Speaking to the press ahead of the match, Zidane admitted that the television images replay constantly.
“Images impossible to forget, seeing as they show them continuously,” Zidane said, according to gazzetta.it. “I am not proud of what I did, but I have no regrets. It’s part of my journey, and in life—and this goes for everyone—you don’t always just do good things.”
Sportmediaset noted the manager’s lapidary response when asked if he ever spoke to Materazzi again. “I have never spoken to him again,” Zidane stated. ANSA highlighted that while French fans readily forgave the midfielder in light of his two goals in the 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil—when France defeated Paraguay in the round of 16 on penalties after a 0-0 draw and beat Italy on penalties in the 1998 quarter-finals at Saint-Denis—at the same Stade de France, Italian media have long recalled his disciplinary record, including a five-match suspension in 2000 for a clash with Hamburg’s Kientz during his Juventus tenure.
Zidane wins titles at Juventus and Real Madrid
Before his career peaked at Real Madrid—where he secured a record of three consecutive Champions League titles as a coach and later added another Liga title, returning only when offered the helm of the France national team, which shares with Spain the highest quality between pitch and bench in world football—Zidane spent five seasons at Juventus, winning the Ballon d’Or in 1998 essentially for guiding France to their first World Cup triumph. He won two scudetti and reached two Champions League finals under Marcello Lippi, whom he praised for his tactical mastery.
“Juventus is part of the positive things in my career,” Zidane said, via gazzetta.it. “It’s at Juve that I became an important player.”
ANSA reported that Gianni Agnelli once described Zidane’s play style as “more amusing than useful” before the midfielder departed for Madrid in 2001. Despite his time in Turin, Zidane never took a managerial role in Serie A.
Assessing the Modern Azzurri
Looking toward Friday’s pitch, Zidane acknowledged the unusual absence of Italy from the last three World Cups while remaining wary of their competitive threat.
Stand-in France captain Ousmane Dembélé, stepping in for the absent Kylian Mbappé, emphasized the emotional weight of the fixture for the squad. “Playing against Italy is special for everyone, we talked about it with Zidane too,” Dembélé said, according to gazzetta.it. Manu Koné added that the reception for their new coach at the Stade de France will reflect his enduring stature in French football.
Zidane takes over as France head coach
When did Zinedine Zidane take over as France head coach?
Zidane assumed leadership of Les Bleus after a five-year hiatus following his departure from Real Madrid, stepping in once Didier Deschamps vacated the position.
What was Zidane’s record against Italy as a player?
Zidane faced Italy four times during his international career, starting with a 2-2 draw in a 1997 pre-World Cup tournament and culminating in the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, having also encountered them in the 1998 World Cup quarter-finals and the Euro 2000 final decided by a French Golden Goal that triggered consequences leading to Dino Zoff’s resignation.
How many trophies did Zidane win during his time at Juventus?
During his five seasons in Turin, Zidane won two scudetti, reached two Champions League finals, and earned the Ballon d’Or in 1998.
Worth a look