The Azzurri overturned an early deficit to beat France 3–1 and go top of Nations League Group A1 with one round remaining
By Andalo Christine Ingutia
Italy produced a memorable night at the San Siro on Thursday, overturning an early deficit to beat France 3–1 in the UEFA Nations League and record their first home victory over Les Bleus in 64 years — while handing Zinedine Zidane his first defeat as France head coach in the process.
The Azzurri move top of Group A1 on ten points, level with France but ahead on the head-to-head tiebreaker, with Belgium one point behind and the race for the quarter-finals still very much alive.
France needed just ten minutes to silence the home crowd when Michael Olise capitalised on a costly error by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to put the visitors ahead. Italy, however, responded with composure rather than panic. In the 26th minute, Nicolò Cambiaghi drove down the left and delivered a perfectly weighted ball into the box for Pio Esposito, who finished calmly to level. The San Siro roared back to life and Italy grew visibly in confidence as the half progressed.
The second period was intense from the outset. France threatened to regain the lead, only for Rayan Cherki’s effort to strike the woodwork. Italy were then given the chance to take control in the 60th minute when Malo Gusto brought down Cambiaghi in the penalty area, but Sebastiano Esposito stepped up and sent his spot-kick wide, squandering the opportunity.
The miss proved only a temporary frustration. Three minutes later, Davide Frattesi found space inside the box and unleashed a first-time finish to put Italy ahead for the first time, turning the contest decisively in the hosts’ favour.
With momentum firmly on their side, Italy pressed for the kill — and found it in the 75th minute. Dayot Upamecano brought down substitute Antonio Vergara in the area, and this time Pio Esposito was ice-cool from the spot, converting to complete his brace and put the result beyond any doubt.
The final whistle triggered jubilant celebrations among the Italian supporters, who had waited since 1962 for a home win over their neighbours across the Alps.
For Zidane, it was a sobering evening. His side had arrived in Milan unbeaten under his management and carrying genuine momentum. The second half exposed their vulnerability to sustained pressure and direct attacking play — lessons he will need to absorb quickly ahead of Sunday’s final group fixture against Türkiye.
Italy travel to Brussels to face Belgium on Sunday in a fixture that carries quarter-final implications for all three sides. With only the top two from Group A1 advancing, neither Italy nor France can afford the luxury of a slip. Belgium, sitting one point off the pace, will be equally motivated to ensure the drama goes to the final whistle.
What is already certain is that Thursday’s result at the San Siro will be remembered well beyond this tournament — the night Italy finally broke a six-decade hoodoo, and the night Zidane’s unbeaten record as France manager came to an emphatic end.
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