France beat Italy by three points to lead the European Nations League group

The France national team won against Italy in a European Nations League match on Sunday at the San Siro stadium. This was part of the first classification round of the 2024-2025 edition.

Adrien Rabiot scored both goals for France, and Guglielmo Vicario, the Italian goalkeeper, scored an own goal. Andrea Cambiasso scored one goal for Italy. The match ended with a score of 2-1 in favor of France.

With this result, France topped the group standings with 13 points from four wins, one draw, and one loss, while Italy also had 13 points but was second due to goal difference.

The French team was without star player Kylian Mbappe, excluded by coach Didier Deschamps. This was not due to a penalty but followed an injury in October.

Historically, Italy and France have faced each other 39 times. Italy won 19 matches, France won 12, and the teams drew 8 times. The Azzurri scored 89 goals against France, while France netted 61 goals.

The match showcased notable performances, including Lucas Digne’s strong play. France’s victory avenged their earlier loss to Italy, where France lost 3-1 at the Parc des Princes.

Team Lineups

Italy:

• Goalkeeper: Vicario
• Defense: Di Lorenzo, Bongiorno, Bastoni
• Midfield: Cambiasso, Frates, Locatelli, Tonali, Demarco
• Attack: Barela, Retegui

France:

• Goalkeeper: Magnan
• Defense: Kaunde, Konate, Saliba, Digne
• Midfield: Guendozzi, Kone, Rabiot
• Attack: Toram, Nkono, Kolo Moani

This victory secures France’s position in the quarter-finals scheduled for March. Both teams showed strong performances, but France’s skill in the match led them to a well-deserved win.