· 2 min readIn this France vs Italy match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
France and Italy came into this third Nations League game in different moments. Zidane’s France had won their first two games, although without exactly blowing anyone away, while Roberto Mancini’s Italy were coming off a big 4-1 win over a Turkey side in crisis. Even so, the last few years for Italy have been quite embarrassing despite the European title they won in 2021, and France, even without Mbappé, came into this one as favourites.
Zidane kept Lucas da Cunha in the starting eleven after his performance against Belgium, leaving Manu Koné on the bench. On the other side, Italy started the Esposito brothers: Pio as the central striker and Sebastiano on the left.
And it was Italy who created the first big chance. In the 9th minute, Frattesi switched play out to the right, Sebastiano put in a low cross, Pio couldn’t finish and the ball fell to Kean, who produced a horrible shot. Maignan saved it, but there was no miracle from the French goalkeeper here: Kean simply wasted a huge chance.
France had more of the ball, but they weren’t managing to turn possession into danger. In the 20th minute, Olise had France’s first shot from a long way out, and in the 32nd, the link-up between Cherki and Olise was magical to watch, although what really mattered was still missing: creating danger. Italy defended well, closed down the spaces and forced France to shoot from outside the box.
At half-time, France had 64% possession, but only 0.27 xG, compared to Italy’s 0.80. The Italian side, with much less of the ball, had been more dangerous.
The second half started differently. In the 47th minute, Doué received a lovely pass from Upamecano, cut inside and forced Donnarumma into a save. From the rebound, Dembélé also came close to scoring, but the Italian goalkeeper responded again. Three minutes later, another save from an Olise shot.
And in the 55th minute, a work of art appeared. Cherki won the free-kick, gave it a little touch and Olise hit it first time. The ball flew into the top corner, hit the crossbar and went in. An absolutely magical goal to put France ahead in a game that had been very difficult.
But the lead didn’t last long. In the 68th minute, Rabiot tried to find Da Cunha, who received the ball with his back to goal but didn’t control it properly. Bastoni won the ball back very close to the French box, carried it forward and fired into the net to equalise. 1-1, from a mistake France simply couldn’t afford to make.
From there, France continued to have more possession, but without exactly creating an attacking avalanche. In the 84th minute, Camavinga forced another great save from Donnarumma, who was already up to five. In the 85th, Upamecano was shown a second yellow after holding back Kean and left France with ten men.
Even so, France continued to look for the winner. In the 90+2nd minute, Camavinga shot from outside the box and Donnarumma appeared again. He was unstoppable today.
Post-match
The draw ultimately leaves the feeling that France had more of the ball but created too little for what they needed. And Italy, despite also not creating much in the second half, were competent enough to come away with a point.
