Zinedine Zidane says France 'deserved better' after Nations League draw with Italy

Zinedine Zidane's inaugural France manager stint ended with a 1-1 draw against Italy in the UEFA Nations League at the Stade de France. The French side had previously triumphed against Turkey and Belgium in Zidane's maiden two matches. However, the home team encountered difficulties during the match. Michael Olise put France ahead just 10 minutes after halftime, but Alessandro Bastoni equalized for Italy shortly after.

Zidane expressed disappointment for his players, acknowledging they "deserved better." Nonetheless, he praised his team's effort and defensive approach, noting they were "exemplary." Zidane believed the scoreline did not fully capture France's performance, suggesting they could have scored a second goal before Bastoni's equalizer.

The match marked Zidane's first home game in charge, a stark contrast to his final international appearance as a player in the 2006 World Cup final, where he was sent off for head-butting Marco Materazzi. Italy's coach, Roberto Mancini, admitted to the difficulty of the matchup, praising France for limiting chances despite having more possession.

Meanwhile, in Group B4, Poland's Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick as Romania crumbled, with Radu Dragusin's dismissal leading to Poland's decisive goal from the penalty spot. In Group A1, Belgium outplayed Turkey 3-0, with Kevin De Bruyne scoring twice and Romelu Lukaku adding his 94th international goal. Bosnia's Edin Dzeko, at 40, made his final international appearance in a 1-1 draw against Sweden, scoring early before being replaced amid a standing ovation by his teammates.