Michael Olise once again demonstrated his remarkable skill by scoring a brilliant goal, but France were held to a 1-1 draw by Italy in Zinedine Zidane‘s first home match as coach of Les Bleus.
Just four days after his stunning solo goal secured a 1-0 victory for France in Belgium, Bayern Munich’s Olise impressed fans at the Stade de France by firing a powerful shot off the crossbar from a free-kick early in the second half, giving France the lead.
However, the advantage was short-lived as Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni leveled the score midway through the second half, denying Zidane a third consecutive win in charge of the national team.
Group Standings and Upcoming Fixtures
Despite the draw, France remain top of UEFA Nations League Group A1 with seven points. Their closest rivals, Belgium, sit just behind on six points after a commanding 3-0 victory over Turkiye.
The two group leaders, France and Belgium, are scheduled to face off on Monday, concluding this intense two-week international window. Meanwhile, Italy, holding four points, will host Turkiye in their next fixture.
The match was also notable for the late dismissal of France’s defender Dayot Upamecano, who received a red card in the final stages of the game.
Zidane’s homecoming carried significant weight, as the match against Italy was played before a packed crowd of 77,118 spectators at the Stade de France, just outside Paris. This fixture mirrored the opponents he faced in his final appearance as a player.
The legendary 54-year-old, a former Ballon d’Or winner, ended his playing career after being sent off for the infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, a match Italy ultimately won on penalties.