Zidane Misses Opening Notes of La Marseillaise in Turkey Debut

Zinédine Zidane made a successful start on the France bench on Friday evening in Turkey, but it was a protocol detail that caught attention: the new France manager missed the opening notes of La Marseillaise, played before kick-off.

“La Marseillaise was launched very quickly, it was the protocol,” he explained after his team’s victory. “Yes, they warned me, but there was still this small delay. It was always the same emotion, I don’t have the words. 20 years later… It had been a very long time since I came back for the France team, so coming back as manager, it’s something special. I made the most of the moment.”

While the anthem was heavily booed by the Turkish crowd, several viewers noted that Zidane only mouthed the words during the singing. A familiar image: throughout his international career, the Marseille native most often had his hand on his heart, remaining silent or merely murmuring the lyrics very discreetly.

Fabien Barthez, integrated into Zidane’s staff as goalkeeper coach, meanwhile did not open his mouth. A striking contrast with images of Didier Deschamps and his assistant Guy Stéphan, who sang La Marseillaise at the top of their lungs during matches in the previous era.

Most French players now sing the anthem, a notable evolution compared to previous generations. The debate surrounding the relationship of French football figures to La Marseillaise, however, seems to have remained intact across the decades.