Zidane believes France lacks threat after being held to a draw by Italy.

France, nicknamed the "Les Bleus," took the lead in the third round of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League group stage thanks to a goal from Olise, but suffered a setback later in the game, including a goal from Upamecano who was sent off, ultimately being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Italy. French coach Zinedine Zidane stated in an interview that his team lacked threat in the match, but he was also proud of his players.

In the match against Italy, Laryan Sergiu took a free kick in the 55th minute of the second half, and Olise scored with a long-range shot from the edge of the penalty area, giving France a 1-0 lead. In the 68th minute, Dacuña made a mistake while trying to receive the ball, and Bastoni regained possession and entered the penalty area to score, helping Italy equalize the score at 1-1.

In the 85th minute, Kean was fouled by Upamecano while vying for possession, resulting in Upamecano receiving his second yellow card and being sent off. Ultimately, France were held to a 1-1 draw by Italy at the Stade de France.

Zinedine Zidane, leading France in their first home game, said, "I'm very disappointed. We should have gotten a better result, but that's football. We should have secured the win earlier, but I'm proud of my players. The team played exceptionally well, and my players were impeccable. I feel sorry for them because they gave it their all."

"We had a lot of possession in the first half, but we didn't really create any threats, which is what we tried to solve at halftime. To hurt the opponent, we must make good use of the space on the field."

Zidane pointed out, "Judging from the performance of the game, we made the corresponding arrangements. Italy played to their own style, adopting a defensive approach, which is typical of them. But in reality, we were not under much threat."

French striker Duai, who plays for Bayern Munich, said, "We are a little disappointed with the result. We really hoped to win at the Stade de France and in front of the fans. However, we will not let this erase the positive aspects of the game."

“We have implemented the head coach’s requirements in many ways, and as he said in the locker room, we are on the right track.”

In addition, French midfielder Rabiot said in an interview, "Italy played very well. We dominated the game for a period and deserved to win, but unfortunately, they had the extraordinary Donnarumma who made three or four incredible saves. Italy impressed me with their fighting spirit. Considering their performance in the first game against Belgium, this form is by no means a given."

“We created a lot of chances, and I think we deserved to score more goals, which is what the manager said in the locker room. However, we are satisfied with the team’s attitude. After scoring, we may have relaxed a little, which is something we need to improve.”

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