Zidane ready for France-Italy rematch: ‘Not proud, but no regrets’ over 2006 Materazzi headbutt

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - SEPTEMBER 28: Zinedine Zidane, Head Coach of France, looks on before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Belgium and France at Stade Roi Baudouin on September 28, 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Zinedine Zidane insists he is ‘not proud of what I did, but also have no regrets’ over the head-butt on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup, as Italy and France meet again tomorrow.

It kicks off at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).

Les Bleus have won their first two Nations League games 1-0, away to Turkiye and Belgium, but this is the first match on home soil since the icon took over from Didier Deschamps as coach.

Italy lost 2-0 at home to Belgium, but then earned a 4-1 victory in Bursa to get back into Group A contention.

Zidane forever linked with Italy

“It is very emotional being back here, and will be even more so tomorrow when the stands are packed with fans,” said Zidane in his press conference.

“Fear doesn’t exist, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I’ve never thought about failure in my career, on the contrary, I see only opportunities.

“I have an incredible team, I’m ready to make the dream come true, and I’m going to give it my all.”

Kylian Mbappé was forced to withdraw from the squad due to a knee injury, but there is no shortage of talent, as shown with squad rotation for the Belgium trip.

“There is no A Team and B Team, only a squad of 23 players. It is up to me to make those choices in every match.”

Inevitably, facing off against Italy brings back the memories of Zidane’s last match in the France shirt, when he was sent off during the 2006 World Cup Final for head-butting Marco Materazzi in the chest.

“The images are being replayed everywhere on a loop, I’ve seen them,” confessed the former Juventus star.

“I haven’t spoken to Materazzi since that day. I’m not proud of what I did, I’ve always said that, but at the same time I have no regrets. It is part of my career.

“Fortunately, that is not all that I did in my career. There are positive and enjoyable moments, and I prefer to remember those. You can’t just have a career of all great moments.”

The France squad was swept up in controversy today after L’Equipe claimed that their long-time security chief Momo Sanhadji used his 20-year tenure to ask around 15 players for money, up to €120,000.

Naturally, this promoted his removal from the Clairefontaine camp ahead of the match.

“I’m not happy, because I know him very well. Other people are handling the situation and I can’t talk about it, but I can only wish him well and will hold on to the positive experiences he had here,” noted Zidane.