France v Italy, five defining encounters from Platini to Zidane | OneFootball

As Zinédine Zidane’s France host Italy on Friday at 20:45, his first home game in charge, the rivalry returns to the fore.

The neighbours have met 41 times across history. L'Équipe highlights five defining encounters.

1982, Parc des Princes, friendly: France 2-0 Italy. Michel Platini scored on 19 minutes, then debutant Daniel Bravo settled it late. Italy won the World Cup that year, France exited in the semi-finals.

1998 World Cup quarter-final: 0-0 after 120 minutes, France won 4-3 on penalties. Robert Pirès later said Fabien Barthez was so detached he could have sipped a coffee. Barthez saved Demetrio Albertini, Luigi Di Biagio hit the bar.

Euro 2000 final: Marco Delvecchio made it 1-0 on 55 minutes, Sylvain Wiltord equalised in 90+4. On 86 minutes Robert Pirès had come on and soon set up David Trezeguet’s golden goal. The rule ended extra time immediately, used from 1996 to 2003.

2006 World Cup final: Zidane’s Panenka on seven minutes, Marco Materazzi levelled on 19. A taunt sparked Zidane’s headbutt and red card, and in the shootout Trezeguet hit the bar as Italy won 5-3.

2024 Nations League, Paris: Bradley Barcola struck after 12 seconds, France’s fastest for 90 years. Italy, out of the World Cup since 2014, replied through Federico Di Marco, Davide Frattesi and Giacomo Raspadori to win 3-1, their first Paris victory since 1954. France won the return in Milan by the same score.

Source: L'Équipe

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”