Pakistan, Oct. 1 -- France midfielder Manu Kone 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," Kone said 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 Kone 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 incred...