France face Italy at home as Zidane seeks to extend perfect Nations League start

Saturday 03 - 10:08

France will welcome Italy at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Friday evening for the third round of the UEFA Nations League, with Zinédine Zidane aiming to maintain his winning start as national-team coach.

The fixture carries particular significance for Zidane, who will lead France on home soil for the first time since taking charge. The return to the Stade de France also evokes one of the defining moments of his playing career: the 2006 World Cup final, when France lost to Italy on penalties.

Speaking ahead of the match, Zidane acknowledged the importance of the occasion while focusing on the task ahead.

The French coach said his squad had prepared thoroughly and was determined to deliver a victory in front of its home supporters.

France arrives as Group A1 leader

France enters the encounter at the top of Group A1 after securing two narrow victories in its opening matches.

The French side began its campaign with a 1-0 win away to Turkey on September 25 before recording an identical result against Belgium four days later. Those results have given Zidane a perfect competitive start and placed France in a strong position in the group.

Italy, meanwhile, has collected three points from its first two fixtures. The Italians opened their campaign with a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium but responded decisively by beating Turkey 4-1 away.

The contrasting starts give Friday's meeting added importance, particularly for Italy as it seeks to close the gap on the group leaders.

Mbappé absence adds another challenge

France will have to cope without captain Kylian Mbappé, who suffered a knee injury during the opening victory over Turkey. The forward subsequently missed the match against Belgium and will also be unavailable for Zidane's first home game in charge.

His absence removes one of France's most prominent attacking options, but Zidane has emphasized the depth available within his squad rather than focusing on individual absences.

The coach has already demonstrated his willingness to rotate his players, making nine changes between France's first two Nations League matches.

“There is no A, B or C team,” Zidane said, underlining his expectation that every member of the squad should be ready to contribute when called upon.

A symbolic encounter for the French coach

Beyond the standings, the match offers Zidane an opportunity to establish his relationship with the French public in one of the country's most important football venues.

The Stade de France provides a highly symbolic setting for his first home appearance as coach, while Italy represents an opponent deeply connected to his international career.

Twenty years after their meeting in the 2006 World Cup final, the two national teams meet again with different objectives but comparable competitive stakes. France will seek to protect its position at the summit of Group A1, while Italy will look to build on its emphatic response in Turkey.

For Zidane, the immediate priority is straightforward: turn a perfect start on the road into a convincing home performance.