FOOTBALL – Zinedine Zidane’s perfect start to life as France manager came to an end when his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Italy in their Nations League meeting at the Stade de France yesterday, where the hosts went down to 10 men in the closing minutes.
France had won 1-0 away to both Turkey and Belgium in Zidane’s first two games, but after Michael Olise put the French ahead 10 minutes after the break, Alessandro Bastoni levelled for Italy.
Zidane’s first home game in charge came against the same opposition he had faced in his final international match as a player.
That 2006 World Cup final, which Italy won on penalties, will forever be remembered for Zidane’s headbutt to the chest of Marco Materazzi which led to his red card in extra-time.
France dominated possession early on, pinning the visitors back in their own half, but the first chance fell to Italy when Moise Kean failed to find the net from inside the six-yard box, firing straight at keeper Mike Maignan.
For all France’s slick passing and attacking play, Olise’s deflected cross clipping the crossbar was the closest they came to scoring in the opening half and before the break Italy created more danger, with Davide Frattesi’s goalbound shot taking a touch off a French player and going out for a corner.
France finally put Gianluigi Donnarumma under pressure shortly after the interval.
The Italian keeper parried away Desire Doue’s shot from distance and recovered in time to block Ousmane Dembele’s follow-up effort from point-blank range.
Donnarumma was back in action moments later, diving to deny Olise’s curling strike as France came out for the second half all guns blazing and they found the opener from a free kick move.