Ten minutes into a wet night in Milan, Italy looked set for a chastening evening. Instead San Siro ended up celebrating a 3-1 comeback win over France that lifts Roberto Mancini’s side to the top of Nations League Group A1 and hands Zinedine Zidane his first loss since he succeeded Didier Deschamps.
France struck early thanks to a gift. Gianluigi Donnarumma, under no pressure, miscued a simple pass from his own area, Michael Olise pounced, danced past two Italians and squeezed a low shot inside the post. Playing without Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, Les Bleus kept attacking and Bradley Barcola rattled the foot of the post. Then, against the run of play, Nicolò Cambiaghi broke down the left after 26 minutes and cut the ball back for Francesco Pio Esposito to poke home the equaliser.
The second half swung back and forth. Donnarumma partly redeemed himself by tipping a long shot from Rayan Cherki onto the frame, and Sebastiano Esposito, the scorer’s brother, blazed a penalty wide around the hour. Moments later, substitute Federico Dimarco reached the byline and Davide Frattesi met his delivery first time to put Italy ahead. France’s last hope faded when Dayot Upamecano clipped the young Antonio Vergara inside the area; Pio Esposito claimed the ball himself and calmly converted the second penalty.
With eight international goals from only 14 appearances, the Inter striker now boasts Italy’s most prolific opening to a career since Christian Vieri in the late 1990s. Mancini praised a “great performance” from his players, while Zidane insisted Mbappé’s absence was no excuse.
Italy travel to Belgium on Sunday needing only a draw to reach the quarter-finals. France face bottom side Turkey and still have work to do.
