The Stade de France meeting carries an unusual emotional charge. In Berlin, Zidane scored with a Panenka penalty, saw Gianluigi Buffon save his extra-time header and then received a red card for headbutting Materazzi. The final ended 1-1, with Italy winning the shootout.
That night remains one of football’s most replayed endings. Zidane’s status in France, however, survived the controversy. He remains a World Cup-winning icon and one of the defining figures in the country’s football history.
The early Nations League picture reportedly gives Zidane the stronger platform:
The contrast is revealing. Zidane appears to have prioritised control and defensive security, while Roberto Mancini’s Italy has endured a setback before producing a more convincing response. Neither opening tells the whole story, but both coaches now face a significant test of momentum.
Away wins can build belief; a first match in front of a home crowd establishes authority. Zidane will be judged not only on the result but also on whether France look comfortable with him directing the team from the touchline.
For Italy, the task is to carry the energy of that response into a far more symbolic setting. Mancini’s side may find that the occasion works in its favour if it turns the pressure back onto the hosts.
The next storyline is obvious: can Zidane transform one of football’s most painful memories into the opening chapter of a successful coaching era?