Italy-France 1-3 in the last match of the Nations League group stage. With this victory, Deschamps’ team finishes in first place with Italy 2nd. Both had already qualified for the quarter-finals.
Italy France
GOALS and HIGHLIGHTS
Italy-France 1-3 At 65′ France extends further with Rabiot (a brace for him)
Italy-France 1-2 In the 35th minute Cambiaso shortens for the Azzurri
Italy-France 0-2 In the 33rd minute France doubled their lead with an own goal from Vicario
Italy-France 01– In the 3rd minute France immediately took the lead with Rabiot
Spalletti
THE MATCH
It was a bitter evening at the San Siro for Luciano Spalletti’s Italy who emerged defeated, 3-1, from the match against France in the last match of the group stage of the Nations League. A defeat that puts the Bleus in first place and the Azzurri in second, ahead of the draw for the quarter-finals. France started very strongly and took the lead after 3′ thanks to a header from Rabiot. Then Vicario’s unfortunate own goal and the immediate Italian reply with Cambiaso. In the second half Rabiot scored again and gave Deschamps’ team first place in the group. Spalletti’s national team takes a small step backwards, from the point of view of the game compared to the latest performances (with the goals conceded from set pieces), net of the technical qualities of the opponent. There is a full house at San Siro with 68,158 spectators present with the record takings for an Italy match, with box office revenue of 1,652,799 euros. Captain Donnarumma is forced to withdraw due to an intestinal virus: in his place is Guglielmo Vicario.
Italy France
For the rest, coach Luciano Spalletti confirmed the starting team seen against Belgium with the exception of Locatelli, who takes Rovella’s place in the control room: behind the lone striker Retegui there is still Barella, captain given his unavailability of Donnarumma. In France Deschamps fields Thuram at the center of the attack with Kolo Muani and Nkunku at his flanks. Space for Guendouzi and Rabiot in midfield. Digne on the left in defense. After the tribute to Gigi Riva and the anthems booed by the two fans, we begin and within two minutes France took the lead with Rabiot who headed from a corner to take time from Buongiorno and beat Vicario. The Azzurri’s start is complicated. In the 9th minute Italy tried to respond with a shot from Barella from distance which Maignan saved without any major problems. Italy tries to impose their game, while France tries to strike on the counterattack. In the 18th minute Guendouzi tries but his shot is high. In the 25th minute Di Lorenzo tries to follow up with a free kick but his conclusion is wide. France dictates the tempo and dominates the game while Spalletti’s team is in trouble. And in the 32nd minute France doubled their lead with an unfortunate own goal by Vicario who deflected a free kick taken by Digne into his own goal.
Italy France
The Italian reaction was almost immediate in the 35th minute when Italy shortened: Di Marco crossed to the center of the area and Cambiaso beat Maignan. The last minutes of the first half saw a more aggressive and proactive Italy despite Retegui’s difficulties, contained by Konaté and Saliba. In the second half Spalletti starts again with the same eleven and the Azzurri’s approach seems more aggressive. France does not change its attitude and tries to make itself dangerous on the counterattack. At 13′ Blues dangerous with Nkunku from distance. In the 20th minute France found their third goal, the second goal from Rabiot who headed the ball past Vicario once again from another corner. Spalletti tries with substitutions to restore strength to the attack by inserting Kean, Raspadori and Rovella. Italy tries to close the gap, the coach also gives space to Daniel Maldini. In full injury time Maignan denied Kean the goal that would have put the Azzurri in first place. The result does not change. France redeems the defeat of the first leg and takes first place in the group.
The main keys to our success was our ability to capitalize on set pieces and create scoring opportunities efficiently. We also had strong communication on the field, which allowed us to maintain our structure defensively while pressing forward. To maintain this momentum heading into the knockout stages, we will continue to focus on our tactics in training, keep the players mentally sharp, and ensure we are prepared for any style of play we might face. Consistency in our performance will be crucial, and we will work on building our synergy further as a team
Interview 1:
Q1: How do you assess Italy’s performance in their last match against France? What were the key factors that contributed to their defeat?
Italy Guest: I think the defeat against France was due to a combination of factors. Firstly, we struggled to control the game in the first half, which allowed them to take an early lead and dominate the flow of the match. Our defense also seemed vulnerable, particularly from set pieces, which resulted in two goals from corner kicks. Additionally, the absence of our starting goalkeeper Donnarumma was a significant blow to the team’s morale and structure. there were some positive takeaways from the game, but we need to improve our ability to adapt and react in future matches.
Q2: Looking ahead, how do you plan to address these issues and ensure a stronger performance in future competitions?
Italy Guest: We need to focus on improving our defense, especially in set pieces, by working on our marking and communication. We also need to develop a more cohesive attack to ensure we can create scoring opportunities against stronger opponents. We have a talented squad, and with more time together and solid preparation, I believe we can turn these challenges into strengths. We will analyze our performance against France closely and make the necessary adjustments to our strategy and tactics.
Interview 2:
Q1: As the coach of France, how did you approach the match against Italy knowing that both teams had already qualified for the quarter-finals?
France Guest: The approach was the same as any other game: to win and finish in first place in our group. We knew it would be a tough match against a strong Italian side, but our goal was to play our style of football and take our opportunities when they came. We started well and took our chances early, which put us in control of the game. We also showed resilience to withstand Italy’s comeback attempt in the second half and maintain our lead. I am pleased with the team’s performance and their dedication to winning the match.
Q2: What was the main key to your team’s success against Italy, and how do you plan to maintain this momentum going into the knockout stages?
France Guest: One of
