Zinedine Zidane has said he has no regrets about the infamous headbutt that ended his playing career during the 2006 World Cup final, as he prepares to face Italy for the first time as France manager.
Zidane was sent off in extra time of the final in Berlin after headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest. Italy went on to win the match on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Twenty years later, the incident remains one of the most recognisable moments in World Cup history. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Friday's UEFA Nations League meeting with Italy, Zidane said he was not proud of what happened but did not regret it.
“The images always remind me of it,” Zidane said, explaining that the incident continues to be shown repeatedly. He added that there were many more positive moments in his career that he preferred to remember.
Zidane also revealed that he has not spoken to Materazzi since the night of the 2006 final. The Frenchman said the incident was part of his career and that he had initially believed the World Cup final would be his final major involvement with the national team.
The former France captain has previously said that comments made by Materazzi about his family contributed to his reaction. Materazzi has also given his own account of the exchange, while Zidane has consistently expressed regret about the act itself without describing it as something he wishes to erase from his career.
The France-Italy meeting carries additional significance because it will be Zidane's first home match as France coach. He replaced Didier Deschamps in July and has begun his tenure with 1-0 victories over Türkiye and Belgium.
France will be without captain Kylian Mbappé, who withdrew from the squad after suffering a knee injury. Zidane, however, said he has a squad of 23 players to choose from and rejected the idea that there is a fixed first-choice team.
Italy will provide another test for Zidane's new-look France side. The Azzurri lost 2-0 to Belgium in their opening Nations League match before responding with a 4-1 victory over Türkiye, leaving them with three points from their first two games.
For Zidane, Friday's match will therefore be about much more than an old World Cup memory. It will mark his first appearance in the France dugout at the Stade de France, where he is expected to receive a major reception from the home supporters.
The headbutt remains part of Zidane's football history, but his latest comments suggest he is more interested in what comes next. As France's new coach, he now has the opportunity to build a new chapter against the same country involved in the final match of his playing career.