Zinedine Zidane prepares for his home debut as France manager

France takes on Italy in the Nations League as Zinedine Zidane manages his first home fixture.

Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 2 October 2026

Zinedine Zidane takes charge of his first home match as France manager when his team plays Italy in the Nations League. Les Bleus enter this fixture after winning their opening two matches by narrow margins. Bettors looking at the outright markets will note that a strong start under a new coach usually keeps a prominent team very short in the pricing.

Market reaction and odds

Bookmakers have priced France tightly for this upcoming match due to their solid defensive displays in recent outings. The team secured back to back victories without conceding heavily, which attracts significant support from punters. Odds compilers are likely to keep France as clear favourites in the match result market.

Past meetings with Italy

Italy managed to beat France in both of their recent meetings during the previous Nations League campaign. Those past results could tempt value seekers into looking at the away win or the draw markets. Punting on goals might also be popular because historical encounters between these two football giants often produce action at both ends.

Managerial mindset

Zidane stated that fear does not exist for him and he views every challenge as a positive opportunity. His confident approach could filter down to the squad on the pitch, translating into a relentless attacking display from the first whistle. Punters backing the hosts to win both halves might find encouragement in this fearless attitude.

What it means for a bet

Expect bookmakers to keep France short in the betting market for this fixture.

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