LdN: Dignified at San Siro, France steals first place from Italy

6th day of the Nations League:

San Siro Stadium, Milan.

Italy – France: 1-3.

Goals: Cambiaso (35th) for Italy; Rabiot (2nd, 66th), Vicario against his camp (33rd) for France.

At the end of a thrilling match, the France team dominated Italy (3-1) thanks to an unstoppable Digne – Rabiot duo. The Blues thus finished in first place in their group in the Nations League.

Three days after their sad goalless draw against Israel at the Stade de France, the Blues wanted to show a completely different face during this clash against Italy at San Siro. Imbued with a spirit of revenge, after the 1-3 first leg defeat last September, the French group started this meeting perfectly. Since on the first action and a nice corner coming from Digne, Rabiot opened the scoring with a cross header at the near post (0-1 in the 2nd). An ideal start, especially since the French left-back broke thirty minutes later. With a direct free kick from 30 meters, Digne sent a splendid strike onto the bar of Vicario, who scored against his side from behind (0-2 in the 33rd). But then plunged into a certain euphoria, the Blues were trapped in the process. Following a loss of ball from Koundé on the right side, Dimarco delivered a caviar for Cambiaso, who deceived Maignan with a volley from the left at the far post (1-2 in the 35th) to leave Italy alive at the break.

Returning from the locker room, France tried to make the break again with Nkunku (57th), but it was a duo already in evidence in the first period who came back. On a free kick again well taken by Digne on the left, Rabiot scored a double by deceiving Vicario with another cross header (1-3 in the 65th). With this great advantage in their pocket, France managed its game until the end with a very serious Maignan (93rd) to maintain this score of 3-1.

Thanks to this prestigious victory at San Siro, Didier Deschamps' team ends the year 2024 on a very good note by snatching first place in Group 2 of the Nations League from Italy, via a better goal difference. As a result, France will avoid Germany, Spain or Portugal in the quarter-finals of the UEFA competition next March.