Zinédine Zidane and the Stade de France, a bond forged since 1998 | OneFootball

Zinédine Zidane’s relationship with the Stade de France has felt singular since a freezing, victorious first night on 28 January 1998, a 1-0 win over Spain.

According to L'Équipe, the stadium and the playmaker have been intertwined ever since. Images from that era show him after winning the 1998 World Cup and, in stark contrast, after a group-stage red card against Saudi Arabia.

The last time he entered that dressing room he took the spot on the right, a place he would not let anyone dispute. It came before France v Mexico, a 1-0 win on 27 May 2006, the night of his 100th cap and his farewell as a player at the Stade de France.

A season or two earlier he had explained that his seat never changed, with Fabien Barthez to his right, and that they did not want anyone between them.

Another chapter resumes on Friday, with France v Italy at 20:45.

Source: L'Équipe

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