France midfielder Koné 'shocked' by coach Zidane's ability in training

PARIS (AP) — France midfielder Manu Koné had to pinch himself when new coach Zinedine Zidane laced up his boots to take part in training.

Arguably the world’s best playmaker during his heyday, the 54-year-old Zidane was in his element spraying passes around and whipping in crosses to his awe-struck players.

“What shocked me during the first week of training was his technical range. He’s lost none of his ability,” Koné said on Tuesday ahead of Friday's game against Italy at Stade de France in the Nations League.

“Seeing it in person is even better, especially at his age,” the 25-year-old Koné added. “It’s true that I was little when he was near the end of his career. To see that he still has that technique now means it must have been incredible in his era.”

Zidane's two goals in the 1998 World Cup final win against Brazil made him an overnight superstar, with his face famously beamed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris as a nation celebrated. A Ballon d'Or award followed and, two years later, his superb performances led Les Bleus to more glory at the European Championship.

“It's a pleasure to be coached by Zidane, a world legend. He's told me to play freely and given me confidence,” Koné added. “He was a midfielder, so as a midfielder I listen to everything he says and I can only learn by his side. He advises me a lot about my positioning and gives me more responsibility."

Zidane's last performance for France was in the 2006 World Cup final, which ended in a penalty shootout loss to Italy. Even though Zidane was sent off in extra time for head-butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi when France was dominating, it did not affect his popularity among French soccer fans.

Since his arrival Zidane has been in the spotlight even more than some of the stars in his squad.

“We shouldn't be shocked, you can only congratulate him for his career,” Koné said. “We will see that on Friday, the ovation he gets (against Italy).”

Zidane played Koné in a sentry midfield role in a 1-0 win at Turkey last Friday, which meant largely sitting in front of and protecting the defense with limited scope to push up.

Two weeks ago, Koné scored twice for Roma against Inter Milan in a table-topping Serie A clash but has yet to find the net in 21 appearances for Les Bleus.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

France's Manu Kone, left, and Turkey's Barıs Alper Yılmaz jump for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Turkey and France in Izmit, Turkey, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

France's Zinedine Zidane during a training session with the French national team at the national soccer team training center in Clairefontaine, west of Paris, France, Monday Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/ Thomas Padilla

France's Manu Kone in action in front of Turkey's İsmail Yuksek during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Turkey and France in Izmit, Turkey, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

France national soccer team coach Zinedine Zidane ties his shoes during a training session in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines west of Paris, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, three days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League soccer match against Turkey. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Concerns about a possible airplane hijacking briefly gripped Israel, while the Lebanese army said the latest Israeli strike in southern Lebanon wounded a soldier and three civilians.

Meanwhile, in Iran, authorities executed two people accused of violence against security forces during the country's January protests.

Here is the latest news from the Middle East on Wednesday. Full coverage is available here.

A commercial plane traveling from the United Arab Emirates to Israel made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, briefly raising concerns about a possible hijacking and prompting Israel to scramble warplanes on Wednesday morning.

A regional official briefed on the incident, who spoke anonymously to be able to talk to the media, said a fight broke out in the cockpit and apparently involved pilots. It wasn’t immediately clear what had caused the fight.

Passengers on the plane told Israel’s Channel 12 by phone that they heard shouts from other travelers in the forward cabin during the altercation, saying the plane dipped steeply before landing in Saudi Arabia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later said the situation was under control.

— By Samy Magdy in Cairo

An Israeli strike hit a Lebanese military vehicle in the village of Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa Wednesday, seriously wounding a soldier, the Lebanese army said. Three civilians were also wounded in the strike.

It was not clear why the army vehicle was targeted. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Lebanese and Israeli governments in June reached an agreement under which the Israeli military was to withdraw gradually from southern Lebanon and allow the Lebanese army to take control, in exchange for disarmament of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Implementation of the deal has stalled.

Hezbollah and Israel’s latest war began on March 2, when the group fired missiles across the border two days after Israel and the U.S. launched their war with Iran. Israel responded with bombardment and a ground invasion of Lebanon and is now occupying a large swath of the country’s south.

The Lebanese army is not party to the war.

Iran executed two men Wednesday over what it said was their role in violence during nationwide anti-government protests in January, state media reported.

IRNA, citing the judiciary, said the men took part in unrest in the northeastern city of Mashhad that left four security officers dead. The judiciary said the men confessed to violence, including setting fires and damaging public property. It also said one had confessed to stabbing a member of Iran's paramilitary force. Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the sentences before they were carried out Wednesday morning.

The unrest began Dec. 28 amid anger over Iran’s collapsing currency and worsening economy and quickly spread across the country, with demonstrators increasingly calling for the overthrow of the ruling clerical system. Iranian authorities responded with a deadly crackdown.

Dozens of Iranians have since been executed in connection with the protests, according to state media in Iran.

Executions are not uncommon in Iran and are often reserved for political prisoners. Rights groups say the accused are usually tried in secretive courts based on forced confessions extracted through torture.

The U.S. military announced on Wednesday that it had completed the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission to fight the Islamic State group.

Baghdad touted the move as a sign of the country’s growing strength and sovereignty. It was also celebrated by Iran-backed groups but raised concerns among some other Iraqis, particularly in the Kurdish region.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, in a statement, called it an “orderly departure” and said that the withdrawal “marks a transition from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort supported by a more normal bilateral security relationship.”

This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

Passengers wait in line to check in their luggage with FlyDubai at Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Mourners carry the remains of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes during the war with Hamas after they were recovered from the rubble, during their funeral in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

FILE - Israeli tourists leave a FlyDubai plane which departed from Ben-Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv and landed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 8, 2020.(AP Photo/Malak Harb, File)