The Azzurri celebrated at the Stade de France. © APA/afp / FRANCK FIFE

The “new” Italy is also surprising France

This Squadra Azzurra is becoming more and more popular! In the top match of the Nations League, Roberto Mancini's team gave the favored French a real scare on Friday evening.

02 October 2026

From: fop/apa

Zinedine Zidane's home debut as France's national football coach ended in a draw. The World Cup semi-finalists could only manage a 1-1 draw against Italy in Friday's Nations League clash at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Bayern Munich's Michael Olise (55th minute) gave the French hope of a home win with a spectacular free-kick goal and his ninth international goal, but center-back Alessandro Bastoni (68th minute) ensured that the Italians, coached by Roberto Mancini, returned to the game. the brilliant 4:1 victory in Turkey They got some tangible results again.

A duel at eye level

The two teams were evenly matched before the break. Surprisingly, the Italians could have made a lightning start, but Moise Kean's shot from five meters was saved by goalkeeper Mike Maignan (9'). At the other end, a deflected lob from Olise struck the crossbar (23'). Shortly before halftime, France's Jeremy Jacquet made a crucial save to deflect a shot from Davide Frattesi for a corner (41').

The break did the hosts, once again without their injured star striker Kylian Mbappe, a world of good. Led by Ousmane Dembele, who this time started as captain, they came out of the dressing room much stronger, moving the ball around skillfully and pressing hard. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a shot from Desire Doue and the follow-up from Dembele (48th minute) and also distinguished himself with a save from an Olise chance a little later (50th minute). He was powerless, however, in the 55th minute. A short free kick from Rayan Cherki was curled over the wall by Olise, who curled it into the corner of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Donnarumma secured the point

A defensive error by Les Bleus allowed Italy to get back into the game. Lucas Da Cunha struggled to control a less-than-ideal pass from Rabiot, Bastoni pounced on the loose ball and finished clinically. Ironically, it was the Inter defender who had become the scapegoat after his red card in the World Cup qualifier in Bosnia.

Riccardo Calafiori (right) congratulates Italy's goalscorer Alessandro Bastoni. © APA/afp / FRANCK FIFE

That was enough to snatch a point, as Donnarumma made brilliant saves from shots by Rabiot (70th minute) and Eduardo Camavinga (83rd and 92nd minutes). The hosts finished the match with ten men after Dayot Upamecano received a second yellow card for repeated fouls, the last of which was on Kean (85th minute). However, this proved inconsequential. Nicolò Barella missed the final chance for an upset in the closing minutes.

Azzurri in third place

After two 1-0 wins in Turkey and Belgium, Zidane, as Didier Deschamps' successor, failed to secure a victory for the first time. His team remains top of Group A1 with seven points. Belgium is one point behind after a 3-0 win against Vincenzo Montella's Turkey. Italy sits in third place with four points, while Turkey is yet to score.

Kevin de Bruyne opened the scoring for Belgium in Liège with a brace (10th, 60th minute). Veteran striker Romelu Lukaku (76th minute) then sealed the victory.

Nations League results from Friday:

France - Italy 1:1
Belgium - Türkiye 3:0
Bosnia & Herzegovina - Sweden 1:1
Hungary - Georgia 1:0
Poland - Romania 6:0
Ukraine - Northern Ireland 0:3
Kazakhstan - Moldova 1:2
Cyprus - Armenia 2:0
Latvia - Montenegro 1:2
Faroe Islands - Slovakia 1:1