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Zinédine Zidane

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República FrancesaNations LeagueItaliaTurciaBelgiumKylian MbappéWorld CupMichael Olise
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Latest Zinédine Zidane articles

Nations League roundup: Olise leads late charge as France bowl over Belgium

Nations League roundup: Olise leads late charge as France bowl over Belgium

France score four goals in 14 minutes to triumph Italy see off Turkey, Hungary edge out Ukraine Michael Olise came off the bench to inspire France to a 4-1 win over Belgium in the Nations League, handing Zinedine Zidane his first home victory since taking charge. Dodi Lukébakio put Belgium on course for their first competitive win over Les Bleus in 45 years when he fired the visitors in front in the first half at the Stade de France. But the hosts turned the match on its head in a blistering finish, scoring four times in 14 minutes to preserve Zidane’s unbeaten start and move closer to the quarter-finals. Continue reading...

BelgiumItaliaMichael Olise
Oct 5, 2026 · byThe Guardian
France v Belgium, Italy v Turkey, Northern Ireland v Georgia: Nations League – live

France v Belgium, Italy v Turkey, Northern Ireland v Georgia: Nations League – live

⚽️ Nations League updates from 7.45pm BST kick-offs ⚽️ Live scoreboard | Read Football Daily | And mail Daniel It feels churlish to grouse about a World Cup-winning manager, but sometimes, it must still be done: given the players Didier Deschamps had in 14 years in charge of France, one World Cup feels like bare minimum at best and failure at worst, the solitary triumph more likely in spite of than because of him. So to Zinedine Zidane. On the one hand, it is not easy to pinpoint the tactical adjustments that won him and Real Madrd two La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues in a row but, on the other, if “all” he did was create an environment in which brilliant talents could flourish, that may also be “all” he needs to do with France. Continue reading...

BelgiumItaliaNations League
Oct 5, 2026 · byThe Guardian
No fairytale return for Zidane as Italy hold France at the Stade de France

No fairytale return for Zidane as Italy hold France at the Stade de France

The Stade de France was filled to capacity as the new French national team manager, Zinedine Zidane, prepared to make his home debut. The very side against whom he had ended his playing career in 2006 was once again the opponent he faced. Despite Michael Olise’s splendid free kick, the French were quickly overpowered by a clinical Italian side.

Zinedine Zidanecritical
ItaliaMichael OliseRepública Francesa
Oct 3, 2026 · byFrance 24
France v Italy: Nations League football – live

France v Italy: Nations League football – live

⚽ Nations League updates from the 7.45pm BST kick-off ⚽ Live scores | Nations League tables | Read Football Daily G’day and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of the Nations League match between France and Italy at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. France’s new coach Zinedine Zidane has made a fine start: two away games. two 1-0 wins against Belgium and Turkey. This is his first home game as France manager, and his first meeting with Italy since 9 July 2006. Don’t play silly buggers; you know exactly what happened that night . Italy 0-2 Belgium Turkey 0-1 France Continue reading...

BelgiumItaliaNations League
Oct 2, 2026 · byThe Guardian
From headbutt to head coach: Zidane faces Italy 20 years after infamous World Cup incident

From headbutt to head coach: Zidane faces Italy 20 years after infamous World Cup incident

PARIS: Deep into extra time in the 2006 World Cup final, France star Zinedine Zidane planted a firm headbutt right into the chest of Italy defender Marco Materazzi. The force sent Materazzi flying backward and Zidane's stellar career ended with a red card. Zidane faces Italy again on Friday, this time in a suit as France's coach. The Nations League game at Stade de France will be his first at home since taking charge of Les Bleus. Although 20 years have passed, the headbutt incident remains one of soccer's most iconic and talked-about moments. After the two briefly exchanged words, Zidane jogged forward to join the play. He suddenly stopped, turned around and stooped his head to push it into Materazzi. As the Italian players reacted angrily, Zidane adjusted his captain's armband before speaking to Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo, who brandished a red card high in the air in front of a stunned crowd in Berlin. In July, Elizondo told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that neither he nor his two assistants had seen the incident. Elizondo was only alerted to it by the fourth official, long before video reviews existed in soccer. As the images were replayed on French television, the late soccer commentator Thierry Gilardi expressed the disbelief of millions watching the drama unfold back home. "Oh Zinedine, not that. Not that, Zinedine. Oh no, not that," Gilardi pleaded. "Not today, not after everything you’ve achieved.” Head bowed, Zinedine walked solemnly past the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy he had raised eight years earlier when France won the World Cup. With Zidane gone, Italy won the ensuing penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. They were the main protagonists of that tense final. Materazzi's early foul on winger Florent Malouda led to Zidane scoring with an audacious Panenka-style penalty. As he stepped up, Zidane avoided eye contact with Gianluigi Buffon, the world’s best goalkeeper at the time, thus negating Buffon's options to read what he would do. He sent Buffon the wrong way with a brilliantly-disguised scuffed shot, with the ball hitting the underside of the crossbar and bouncing over the line. Zidane almost scored again but his injury-time header was superbly tipped over by Buffon. Soon after, Zidane was in the dressing room as the last game of his career ended in shame. Speculation abounded as to what made ZZ blow his top. "He triggered something by mentioning my sister Lila," Zidane told sports daily L’Equipe in 2022. "Sometimes it’s in moments like those that you might do something wrong.” Materazzi said teammate Gennaro Gattuso had scolded him for not marking Zidane on an earlier header. "Shortly thereafter in a similar situation I held (Zidane) by the shirt a little in order so he couldn’t jump," Materazzi explained. "I said sorry twice. Then he said, ‘If you want my shirt I’ll give it to you later,’ and I said something to him. But nothing worse than what we used to say as kids playing on the beach in Bari.” Zidane’s two goals in the 1998 World Cup final win against Brazil made him an overnight superstar, with his face famously beamed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A Ballon d’Or award followed and, two years later, his inspired performances led Les Bleus to glory at the European Championship. Despite the red card, his popularity remains undiminished and hundreds of fans cheered him outside the French soccer federation's headquarters when he was appointed France coach after the World Cup, replacing Didier Deschamps. France players Esteban Lepaul and Manu Koné have spoken with admiration about Zidane's training sessions. Zidane has won his first two games in charge away from home, 1-0 against Turkey and Belgium. Italy's rebuilding under returning coach Roberto Mancini began with a 2-0 home loss to Belgium, but there is optimism following a 4-1 win at Turkey.

Zinedine Zidanecritical
BerlinItaliaNations League
Oct 1, 2026 · byMobile Business
Football Daily | Oh Jürgen! Mixed fortunes for the Nations League’s fab four

Football Daily | Oh Jürgen! Mixed fortunes for the Nations League’s fab four

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! This time last week, Football Daily romanticised a continental renaissance of sorts. The arrival of Jürgen Klopp, Zinedine Zidane and Xavi Hernández on the international management scene piqued our interest . We were also impressed by the clanging brass stones of Roberto Mancini, who returned to the Italy ejector-seat three years after abruptly pulling the lever and abandoning his country in order to take the Saudi riyal. Two games in and it’s time to appraise the respective early efforts of this glitzy A-list quartet of trophy-hoarding aristocrats, one of whom has had a somewhat chastening introduction to life in the international lane. Oh Jürgen! Continue reading...

ItaliaJürgen KloppRoberto Mancini
Sep 29, 2026 · byThe Guardian
Olise wonder strike gives Zidane's France win in Belgium

Olise wonder strike gives Zidane's France win in Belgium

Michael Olise's magnificent late strike gave France a 1-0 victory in Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on Monday as Zinedine Zidane made it two wins out of two since being named coach. The win follows a 1-0 success away to Turkey last Friday in Zidane's first game at the helm after succeeding Didier Deschamps as coach following the World Cup.

Zinedine Zidaneneutral
BelgiumMichael OliseRepública Francesa
Sep 29, 2026 · byFrance 24
Nations League: Olise’s late stunner leads France past Belgium, Italy rout Turkey

Nations League: Olise’s late stunner leads France past Belgium, Italy rout Turkey

Belgium 0-1 France, Turkey 1-4 Italy, Sweden 3-1 Poland Northern Ireland left frustrated by Hungary stalemate Michael Olise’s magnificent late strike gave France a 1-0 Nations League victory over Belgium in Brussels, as Zinedine Zidane made it two wins out of two since being named as the new head coach. Olise came off the bench late on with the game goalless, and set off from inside his own half to score the winner in the 88th minute. Olise advanced all the way to the edge of the Belgium area before curling a shot beyond the reach of Senne Lammens. Continue reading...

BelgiumBruselasIrlanda del Norte
Sep 28, 2026 · byThe Guardian
Nations League: Kylian Mbappé injured after scoring France winner in Turkey

Nations League: Kylian Mbappé injured after scoring France winner in Turkey

France beat 10-man Turkey 1-0 to start Zidane era Italy 0-2 Belgium, Georgia 0-1 Northern Ireland Kylian Mbappé limped off with an apparent knee injury, moments after scoring France’s winner against Turkey in the Nations League on Friday. The Real Madrid striker rifled in a low shot in the 55th minute after he was set up by Michael Olise. Soon after his record-extending 67th France goal, Mbappé sat on the ground and grimaced as he rubbed the area around his left knee. Continue reading...

Kylian Mbappéneutral
BelgiumGeorgienItalia
Sep 25, 2026 · byThe Guardian
Turkey v France, Italy v Belgium, and more: Nations League clockwatch – live

Turkey v France, Italy v Belgium, and more: Nations League clockwatch – live

⚽ Updates from Friday evening’s Nations League games ⚽ Live scoreboard | Read Football Daily | Mail Michael Of all the new international appointments, the most eye-catching is probably Jürgen Klopp with Germany, which feels both a radical and a natural fit for the four-time World Cup winners, who are in desperate need of a hard reset. Klopp was denied a win in his first game in charge against the Netherlands – now managed by Xavi – with Cody Gakpo striking in injury-time to earn a 1-1 draw for the Dutch . The next most exciting appointment is surely France and Zinedine Zidane, who has not stepped into a dugout since leaving Real Madrid (for a second time) five years ago. After winning three consecutive Champions Leagues and a couple of La Liga titles in the Age of Messi, nobody is really sure Zizou is a managerial great, or simply an elite vibesman, who uses his personal aura to instill deference and respect into a talented squad, rather than being a master tactician. Maybe a vibesman is just what France need after the rigidity of Didier Deschamps – Les Bleus are surely the best team on the planet on paper, but have looked clunkier and less cohesive than they should, despite their tournament success in recent years. This opening test for Zidane, away to Turkey, should be enlightening and this is an excellent piece by Jonathan Wilson that expands on those ideas about Zidane. Get stuck in. Continue reading...

BelgiumCody GakpoItalia
Sep 25, 2026 · byThe Guardian
Germany, Netherlands and France: New European managers make their debuts

Germany, Netherlands and France: New European managers make their debuts

Like France under Zinédine Zidane, Germany and the Netherlands are entering new eras with their new managers. Both the Netherlands and Germany exited the World Cup frustrated following painful eliminations. Both nations are rebuilding and will face each other in the Nations League opener. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has made no secret of his desire to reach the highly symbolic milestone of scoring 1,000 goals for his national team, although he insists that this is "not an obsession".

Cristiano RonaldoNations LeaguePaíses Bajos
Sep 24, 2026 · byFrance 24
Football Daily | Klopp, Xavi, Zidane, Mancini: big nations ready to unleash bigger dogs

Football Daily | Klopp, Xavi, Zidane, Mancini: big nations ready to unleash bigger dogs

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! While Thomas Tuchel continues to gaslight his employer s at the FA into believing he was in no way responsible for England’s comically shambolic semi-final exit at the hands of Argentina, not every head coach who underperformed at the Geopolitics World Cup is still in their job. A total of 17 different managers who took teams to North America have since left their roles, with safety-first’s Steve Clarke, failing-up’s Roberto Martínez and tyranny’s Marcelo Bielsa among them. In Europe, teams such as Portugal (Jorge Jesus), Croatia (Slaven Bilic), Scotland (Sébastien Pocognoli), Czechia (Santi Denia) and Belgium (Mark van Bommel) will go into the Nations League under new management, but it is towards the bigger dogs of the football pack where Football Daily wishes to turn today’s beady gaze. Prize o’ the day to Barry Glendenning, surely, for mentioning Johnny Crumplin (football genius) in Monday’s Football Daily . As an Ipswich fan marooned in Sussex, I spent much of my teenage years at the Goldstone which, despite being a dump (I stood on the crumbling South Stand), held a certain magic for me. It still does, actually. Haven’t been to the Amex yet – hopeless nostalgia is undoubtedly a factor. The team weren’t much better than the ground for most of that time, but the 1987-88 promotion season was memorable. Garry Nelson was a bit special, Doug Rougvie had played under Fergie at Aberdeen and Gerry Armstrong had legendary status after *that* goal, but the rest of the team probably (and unfairly ) fall into the journeyman category. I loved them all. Keith Dublin dribbling his way into and then out of trouble, sleeves-up Kevin Bremner who grafted and worked the Albion into the promotion places, Deano (one of the Wilkins brothers) classy and, of course, Barry Lloyd, who never brought a sub on until the last four or five minutes, frustrating us beyond belief. And into this pantheon came teenage Johnny C who, to start with, was utterly hapless, hence the nickname football genius. Somehow, despite this, we took to him from the off and it was lovely to see how he grew into becoming an Albion legend in what were fallow years. Blimey, not sure where that all came from – you can probably tell I’m stuck out in the middle of the Fens on a slow-moving train. But thank you for bringing it all back to me!” – Jonathan Foulkes. I know the powers that be have listened to Football Daily’s ‘Stop Football’ pleas and given us very little to do for the next three weeks but, as we are just five games in to the Premier League season, can everyone stop going on about the race for the Golden Boot and which team are going to bloody champions” – Nigel Sanders. Judging by the photo of him sitting behind their ‘Life’s Good’ logo in yesterday’s Quote of the Day , LG could do a lot worse than appoint José Mourinho as a brand ambassador for their campaign. As football watchers have long known, he exudes the spirit of that exclamation from every single pore” – Andrew Parker. So, Jonathan Wilson has a new book, about football in Eastern Europe, Behind the Curtain , while his take on Zidane as the new France manager will reveal the ‘ wizard behind the curtain ’. Brilliant effort from the subeditor and marketing team working in harmony” – Paul Vickers. Continue reading...

ArgentinienBelgiumEngland
Sep 22, 2026 · byThe Guardian