France 1-3 Italy
Friday night in the city of romance and a clash between two heavyweight nations – perhaps the Nations League deserves more kudos than I’ve given it credit for!
Certainly, it does if you’re Italian.
Just picture the scene.
You’re coming off the back of a hugely disappointing Euro 2024 in which, as holders, you are largely lethargic and on your way home after the first tie of the last 16.
You are duly criticised at home and abroad and have barely finished licking your wounds before it’s first game back – and you’re a goal down after a mere 13 seconds!
What comes next?
Highlights of the game
Nations League highlights, of course!
That barely seemed possible when, virtually straight from kick off, Giovanni Di Lorenzo saw the ball snatched from him by Bradley Barcola who drove forward and finished superbly for his first ever international goal.
At that point, most of the smart money was on the home side managed by Didier Deschamps who had kept faith with most of his Euro 2024 squad, although free agent Adrien Rabiot and Inter Milan defender Benjamin Pavard were both omitted.
Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise was selected for the first time, after impressing at the Olympics by recording seven goal involvements, while recent Roma recruit Manu Kone was named among the substitutes.
Meanwhile, Italy were without the injured Gianluca Scamacca and Nicolo Barella, who has undergone scheduled sinus surgery.
In all, eight players from the European Championships squad were absent but manager Luciano Spalletti had his own ideas, including Sandro Tonali who, as predicted, was given his first start after 10 months out with a betting ban.
One-nil up, many would have expected France to push on from their dream start.
Captain Kylian Mbappe had failed to hit the heights in Germany, not helped by a broken nose in Les Bleus’ first game of the tournament, yet he had started the new season well and grabbed a double for Real Madrid last weekend.
Gianluigi Donnarumma got down to parry his angled drive and an Olise strike as France pressed for a second.
However, after surviving the hosts’ strong start, Italy – who hit the bar through a Davide Frattesi header – restricted the damage to one goal and hit back on the half hour with a wonder goal.
Andrea Cambiaso sprayed the ball across the pitch to Federico Dimarco on the left who played a one-two with Tonali before unleashing a fierce volley into the far top corner.
France could have retaken the lead but Italy grew in confidence and, shortly after the restart, Mateo Retegui darted down the right and delivered a pacy cross which Frattesi met expertly.
Home substitute Ousmane Dembele shinned a volley from 14 yards, then went on a strong run and, when tackled by Alessandro Bastoni, accidentally crashed into Riccardo Calafiori. The Arsenal defender tried to continue but had to be substituted.
That proved the only negative for Italy on the night.
There were 16 minutes remaining when Spurs’ full-back Destiny Udogie advanced and threaded the ball to Giacomo Raspadori who burst past his marker and slotted home.
Italy and Tonali, hailed by Spalletti after the match, were now firmly in the ascendancy and their summer’s woes were briefly forgotten.
After 13 seconds, who’d have believed it!
Key statistics
This was the first time since the 2022 World Cup Final that France had conceded three goals.
France and Italy have met each other 38 times, with the Azzurri having the superior head-to-head record with 19 wins (drawn eight, lost 11).
This was their first meeting since a 2018 friendly, which France won 3-1, and only the second time in seven games Italy had beaten them after three consecutive defeats.
Italy have suffered just two losses in their last 10 games in the Nations League.
What’s next?
The big games keep coming for Les Bleus who entertain Belgium next, on Monday evening (September 9).
At the same time, the Azzurri are in Israel.
Be sure to study the SBOTOP Nations League betting odds in advance.
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