Lucas Da Cunha earns Zidane backing after Italy error

Zinédine Zidane has backed Lucas Da Cunha after the midfielder’s mistake contributed to Italy’s equaliser, making clear that the incident would not define his performance. The support offers encouragement to a player still establishing himself at international level.

France drew 1-1 with Italy, with Da Cunha losing possession in a dangerous area while under pressure from Alessandro Bastoni. The sequence followed a risky pass from Adrien Rabiot, leaving room for debate over how much responsibility belonged to each player. Zidane nevertheless focused on the midfielder’s wider contribution rather than singling him out for the goal.

Da Cunha had already made a positive impression in his first appearance against Belgium and again showed technical control against Italy. His passing was generally accurate, and he worked to help France retain circulation. His influence was less evident when the team needed greater tempo, with France struggling to add speed and verticality during a largely ineffective first half.

The Como midfielder, formerly of Monaco, remains in the early stages of his France career. Despite the error that allowed Italy back into the match, Zidane’s confidence gives Da Cunha room to continue his integration with the national team while learning from the demands of top-level international football.