Twenty years after his infamous World Cup final headbutt, Zidane faces Italy again as France coach

Zinedine Zidane is set to face Italy as the coach of the French national team, marking his first home appearance as head manager of Les Bleus. The fixture comes twenty years after the infamous incident in the 2006 World Cup final, where Zidane received a red card for delivering a firm headbutt into the chest of Italy defender Marco Materazzi during extra time, which brought his stellar playing career to an end.

Zidane has opened his tenure as France's coach with a strong start, securing two victories ahead of the upcoming match against Italy. The encounter revives one of the most memorable rivalries and disciplinary incidents in international football history, bringing Zidane back into direct competition with the nation involved in his final match as a player.