Italy‑France Nations League clash ends 3-1 win for Italy, Zidane suffers first defeat

The Italy France Nations League encounter at Milan’s San Siro on Thursday ended with a 3‑1 victory for the hosts, handing Zinedine Zidane his first defeat as France’s head coach. Michael Olise opened the scoring after ten minutes when a mis‑pass from Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma found the French midfielder unmarked. The early lead, however, proved fleeting as Italy responded with two goals from Francesco Pio Esposito and a second‑half strike from Davide Frattesi, sealing the win and propelling the Azzurri to the top of Group A1.

Olise’s goal came after Donnarumma attempted a routine clearance that slipped straight to the French winger, who dribbled past a defender before firing home his fifth Nations League goal in as many matches, a tally matched only by England captain Harry Kane’s record. France’s early momentum was evident despite the pouring rain; Desire Doué struck the post and captain Adrien Rabiot tested Donnarumma before Lucas Da Cunha’s half‑volley narrowly missed the target. Yet the visitors could not extend their advantage, with two attempts later rattling the woodwork.

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Italy’s response arrived in the 26th minute when Nicolo Cambiaghi surged down the right flank, cut back a low cross and found Esposito in space. The younger Esposito, playing for Inter Milan, tapped the ball delicately into the net, giving the home side an equaliser. The excitement intensified two minutes later when his brother Sebastiano Esposito earned a penalty, only to see his spot‑kick sail wide, leaving the score at 1‑1. The half‑hour mark saw Italy come close again as Bradley Barcola’s curling effort struck the far post, while France continued to press, with Rayan Cherki’s shot pinging off Donnarumma onto the post.

The second half maintained the end‑to‑end tempo. A chance for Italy to lead materialised when Cambiaghi was brought down by France’s Malo Gusto, earning a penalty. Sebastiano, however, failed to convert, blasting his spot‑kick over the bar just before the hour. The disappointment was short‑lived; three minutes later Davide Frattesi surged forward, receiving a precise Federico Dimarco cross and firing a low drive into the net to give Italy a 2‑1 lead.

The decisive moment arrived when Antonio Vergara, who had entered the match as a substitute, was fouled by Dayot Upamecano inside the box. Francesco Pio Esposito stepped up for the ensuing penalty and, this time, calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner, restoring Italy’s two‑goal cushion. France managed a consolation strike later, but the scoreline remained 3‑1 at the final whistle.

The win marked several notable milestones. It was the first home defeat France had suffered against Italy since 1962, and it represented the inaugural loss for Zidane in his tenure as France’s head coach. For Italy, the result extended Roberto Mancini’s unbeaten run to four matches in his second spell at the helm and show the resurgence of the Esposito brothers on the international stage. The three points moved Italy level on 10 points with France but placed them ahead on head‑to‑head record, securing top spot in Group A1. Belgium sit third with nine points after their victory over Turkiye, while Turkiye remain at the bottom.

Looking ahead, the group’s final round of fixtures is set for Sunday. Belgium will travel to Milan to face Italy, and Turkiye will journey to Paris to take on France. Both matches will determine whether Italy can maintain its leading position or if France can recover to claim the group’s top place.

Beyond the immediate implications for the Nations League, the result may influence squad selections ahead of upcoming Euro qualifiers, where both Italy and France aim to solidify their line‑ups. Zidane’s side, missing injured stars Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, will likely reassess their attacking options, while Mancini may look to build on the performances of the Esposito brothers and Frattesi as he prepares for the next round of international competition.

The match also provided a platform for individual achievements. Olise’s fifth goal matched the record previously held only by Harry Kane, who celebrated his 126th England cap with a penalty‑spot winner against Croatia later that evening. Kane’s milestone, alongside the Esposito brothers’ contributions, highlighted the night as one of personal as well as team success across the tournament.

As the Nations League progresses, the Italy‑France Nations League clash will be remembered for its dramatic swing in momentum, the emergence of new heroes, and the end of an unbeaten run for France under Zidane. The final group matches on Sunday will confirm whether Italy’s resurgence translates into a place in the competition’s knockout stage.