France boss Zidane says he doesn't regret infamous headbutt ahead of Italy clash

[p][b]"The images will always be there to remind me of what happened in 2006, because they are always being shown,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zidane-zinedine/b7zuQEqO/"]Zidane[/a] said when asked about the incident which led to him being sent off in extra time in what was his last ever match as a player.[/p][p][b]"Fortunately that is not the only thing I did and there were other nicer things, so I try to think more about the positives,"[/b] Zidane said at a press conference at the Stade de [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a], where [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/france-QkGeVG1n/italy-hlKvieGH/?mid=6NquLnZ8"]Les Bleus host the Italians in the UEFA Nations League on Friday.[/a][/p][p][b]"I don't have regrets because it was part of my career,"[/b] he continued, adding that he had not spoken to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/materazzi-marco/r3YqlUhD/"]Materazzi[/a] since that night in Berlin, in a final which [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/italy/hlKvieGH/"]Italy[/a] won on penalties.[/p][p][b]"In 2006 I didn't know I was going to become a coach. I thought that was the end so it was really difficult for me.[/b][/p][p][b]"I am not proud of what happened. I have said it over and over again, but it is part of my career - you can't only do wonderful things."[/b][/p][embed guid="db4038e8-6761-4fb7-86e9-48fcd35ff8ef" url="https://x.com/equipedefrance/status/2104688534070431946" social-type="twitter" /][p]Zidane, 54, was appointed France coach in late July, succeeding his former international teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/deschamps-didier/M9jPX2nf/"]Didier Deschamps[/a], who stepped down after 14 years in charge following the World Cup in North America.[/p][p]The former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] coach's first two matches in charge have come away from home, with Les Bleus winning 1-0 in Turkey and by the same scoreline in Belgium in the Nations League.[/p][p]Friday's match, in front of what will be a sell-out crowd of close to 80,000 at the national stadium to the north of Paris, will therefore be a homecoming for the coach, who remains an icon in France.[/p][p][b]"It is going to be really emotional," [/b]said Zidane, whose last appearance at the Stade de France came as a player in a friendly against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a] in 2006.[/p][h2]Dembele 'no issue' with Mbappe[/h2][p]France are without captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Kylian Mbappe[/a], who returned to his club Real Madrid after suffering a knee injury while scoring the winning goal in Turkey last week.[/p][p]Earlier, France forward Ousmane Dembele insisted there was no tension between him and Mbappe after comments made by both players in the media about the Ballon d'Or.[/p][p]Dembele, of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a], won last year's Ballon d'Or and is nominated again this year, while Mbappe is one of the leading contenders to succeed his compatriot.[/p][p][b]"There is no issue. We have talked about it. We sit next to each other at the dinner table,"[/b] Dembele told reporters, dismissing the matter as a "social media squabble".[/p][p]Mbappe said in an interview last month with France Football magazine that Dembele "was always seen as a talented player, while I was always seen as the chosen one".[/p][p]A few days later Dembele replied to those comments, saying: "I have never been the chosen one, but I have worked hard, and last year I was rewarded for a fantastic year with Paris Saint-Germain. This year we will see."[/p][infobox id="5a8fbd57-e97c-4bdc-9f6b-fb0fb254e893" /]