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Zidane's France host Italy in Nations League, his first home match as coach

Twenty years after the 2006 World Cup final, Zinedine Zidane faces Italy as France coach at the Stade de France on Friday, his first home match in charge.

3 outlets · 0L · 2C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Arab News
Image: France 24
Image: The National

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The story, neutrally told

Zinedine Zidane faces Italy on Friday as France's coach in a Nations League match, twenty years after the 2006 World Cup final. The game at the Stade de France is his first at home since taking charge of Les Bleus; the stadium is where he experienced several defining moments of his career. Zidane has won his first two games in charge, both away: 1-0 against Turkiye and 1-0 against Belgium, according to Arab News.

Italy, under returning coach Roberto Mancini, began their rebuilding with a 2-0 home loss to Belgium, then won 4-1 at Turkiye. Zidane was appointed after the World Cup, replacing Didier Deschamps, and hundreds of fans cheered him outside the French football federation's headquarters. France players Esteban Lepaul and Manu Koné have spoken admiringly of his training sessions. In the 2006 final in Berlin, Zidane headbutted Italy defender Marco Materazzi in extra time and was sent off by referee Horacio Elizondo; Italy won the penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.

Zidane told L'Equipe in 2022 that Materazzi had triggered him by mentioning his sister Lila; Materazzi has said he held Zidane by the shirt, apologised twice and then said something to him in response to a remark about his shirt. Elizondo told La Gazzetta dello Sport in July that neither he nor his assistants had seen the incident and that the fourth official alerted him.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre2 outlets

Framing
France 24, via L'Equipe TV, gives a brief preview as the lead item in a multi-sport roundup, noting the 20-year link to the 2006 final and the return to the Stade de France.
Emphasis
The match as one item among other results (Portugal, Germany, tennis, basketball).
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the headbutt, Zidane's results so far or Italy's form.
For example
“For his first match in France as manager, he also returns to the Stade de France, where he experienced several defining moments of his career.” — France 24

Right1 outlet

Framing
Arab News leads with the 2006 headbutt and retells the final in detail before turning to Zidane's current job.
Emphasis
The headbutt, accounts from Zidane, Materazzi and referee Elizondo, Zidane's enduring popularity and the two sides' recent results.
Leaves out or plays down
No match preview beyond results so far, such as lineups or expectations for Friday.
Charged language
“infamous”“ended in shame”
For example
“Although 20 years have passed, the headbutt incident remains one of soccer’s most iconic and talked-about moments.” — Arab News