Zidane electrifies the Stade de France in the Nations League

Zinédine Zidane gave an exceptional moment to the crowd at the Stade de France, triggering an “Olé” in the final period of the Nations League match where France beat Belgium 4‑1, thus consolidating its first place in the group with ten points.

In the final minutes of regular time, the Belgian goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoort, under pressure from Adrien Rabiot, cleared the ball directly to the touchline. The action placed Zinédine Zidane, hands in his pockets, just in front of his technical area, where he intercepted the ball. Stretching his right foot, the 1998 Ballon d’Or delivered a technical finish that recalled his exploits with Juventus and Real Madrid.

Crowd Explosion

Zidane's control triggered a general “Olé” from the crowd at the Stade de France, which immediately cheered the manager by chanting his name. Despite the enthusiasm, “Zizou”’s face remained impassive, while his assistants, visible in the background, wore broad smiles.

The match ended with a 4‑1 victory for France over Belgium, consolidating the first place in the Nations League group with ten points, three points ahead of Italy, second in the group. This performance marks Zinédine Zidane’s first gathering as manager, with three wins and a draw to his credit.

The coach’s remarks

“We are happy, because on the scoreboard, already after four matches, we have ten points,” Zidane said after the match. He added that, beyond the wins and the points, the satisfaction lay in the “good work” done with his players and in the quality fifteen days they have spent together.

The manager also highlighted the evolution of the second half, stating that “the second half changed compared to our first half, even though there isn’t everything to discard in the first half.” He acknowledged a lack of punch in the last twenty‑five to thirty metres, but praised the collective response that allowed the match to be turned around and to finish the fifteen days on a very positive note.

Future Stakes

With ten points, France remains at the top of the group, three points ahead of Italy, and will continue its upcoming Nations League commitments. Zidane indicated that the points to improve will be addressed “little by little, gently,” hinting at a continuity of work for the matches to come. The goal remains to keep the first place and aim for the Nations League final.