Zinedine Zidane, head coach of the French national team, showed a strong reaction after his player Michael Olise scored the decisive goal against Belgium during their UEFA Nations League match, running onto the pitch and kicking a ball forcefully.
Zidane spoke following France's 1-0 victory over Belgium and was asked about the upcoming match against Italy in the UEFA Nations League.
Zidane stated in remarks published by French outlet "RMC": "My celebration of Olise's goal? I saw him start with the ball, dribbling, and I told myself he would score. I lived the moment with him with great enthusiasm. We were excellent in all aspects tonight, including our high pressing; we executed our plan against a strong team."
He added: "We held firm and showed courage, not hesitating to advance toward the opponent's half, which is what I like. The wonderful thing is that everyone is integrated and actively participating, and that is what we love."
He continued: "We imposed our control, which was logical given the overall flow of the match. We deserved it and succeeded in scoring the goal eventually. Considering our performance, we truly deserved that goal; we controlled the match very well."
Regarding his player Lucas Da Cunha, he said: "I am very happy; it isn't easy because this was his first appearance, joining a group he didn't previously know. He played in his usual style and exactly as I wanted him to, with complete freedom."
Praising Michael Olise, he said: "He is pure talent, a true footballer, and I love this type of player. He seeks to entertain the fans and possesses high football intelligence; he understands the flow of play, knowing when to push forward and when to slow things down. I am happy to have him alongside us."
He also praised Désiré Doué: "Things went very well. The opponent's full-backs advanced frequently, and my players successfully marked them defensively. All players were excellent; it is difficult to single out one individual. I am happy with everything I saw tonight. We are a cohesive team, and we have proven that in both matches."
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When asked whether there is a fixed starting lineup, Zidane replied: "This concerns all of us. What I like about this team is that everyone feels involved. I do not want to include players who already assume they won't play in matches. While making decisions is ultimately my responsibility, everyone must be ready."
Regarding the upcoming match against Italy, when asked if he is eager to play it, he responded: "No, because we need rest. Currently, what I look forward to is for the players to recover and have some time for themselves. We will return to our base at 'Clairefontaine'; everything has its proper time."
It is worth noting that Zidane previously lost the World Cup title to the Italian national team in 2006 while playing for the French squad, in the match where he received a red card following his famous clash with Marco Materazzi.
