The French team, buoyed by its efficiency on set pieces and Mike Maignan's saves, took its revenge on Italy this Sunday (1-3). She even took advantage of the two-goal gap to take first place in the group.
At the end of a mixed year, the Blues decided to finish the job in apotheosis by bagging a prestigious success on the lawn of San Siro, in Milan. They, conscientious defensively and capable of hitting the mark in set phases, were able to rely on Lucas Digne, Adrien Rabiot and Mike Maignan to shine from kick-off to the last whistle. Italy lost (1-3) and left its first place to the France team, which can still fall against five potential opponents in the quarter-finals of this Nations League.
How did this French success unfold? As in the first leg, the game got off to a flying start for the Blues, who shook the net in the 2nd minute with a helmet strike from Adrien Rabiot. The OM midfielder was on the receiving end of a corner from Lucas Digne, who began his 50th selection with fanfare. The latter stood out again a few minutes later, this time from a free kick. He fired an attempt which bounced off the crossbar, then onto the back of Guglielmo Vicario who scored against his side (33'). The break was nevertheless short-lived with Andrea Cambiaso's score reduced (35') in the process.
Upon returning from the locker room, the game on offer was much less exciting and we once again had to count on the help of Lucas Digne to make the difference. The latter again found Adrien Rabiot for a double header (65′). It has been 33 years since the French team last scored three goals from set pieces in a single match. In management until the final whistle, the France team then relied on Mike Maignan.
The rescue of Mike Maignan
Already author of two decisive saves, Mike Maignan pulled out all the stops in added time by repelling a powerful attempt from Moïse Kean (90+4′): “Thanks Mike”exulted Bixente Lizarazu when four minutes had already passed and it was a final round for the Squadra Azzurra. In the process, referee Slavko Vincic released Didier Deschamps' players, who could in turn express their joy.
Five potential adversaries
The Netherlands, Croatia, Poland, Denmark or Serbia, there are still five who could become the next opponents of the Blues. The last matches played in the coming days will allow us to know a little more before the final draw. See you in March to experience these quarter-finals of this fourth edition of the Nations League. The Blues have already won once, it was in 2021 after beating Spain in the final (2-1), and there is no doubt that they will try to achieve a second coronation in this competition in 2025.
Lucas Digne's reaction
Preferred over Théo Hernandez, Lucas Digne experienced his 50th selection this Sunday at San Siro. This success is all the more delicious:
“We played a complete match. It was important to win and to react after the match against Israel (0-0). I think we showed a completely different face. It's really great. Honestly, the desire and the face we showed is what we wanted. We really gave everything on the pitch like a real group, and this result is just the reward for our workbegins the left side. It wasn't a foregone conclusion (finishing first in the group, editor's note), but it was clearly the objective. We did everything we had to do to win. It's certainly a benchmark match for us lately. It did us a lot of good and we were all really proud of ourselves to be able to finish in this position. »
Unable to shake the nets in 49 caps, Lucas Digne once again missed the mark while his achievement was logically counted as a goal against his Vicario camp. It's cruel for him, who is still waiting for his first goal for the Blues. However, nothing to take away his smile. :
“Two assists and 50% of the goal with the goalkeeper, it’s true that it was a great evening. The goal? It's a move that I work on a lot in training. It's a free kick. I saw that the goalkeeper had opened the side and I felt it. I tried my luck”he concluded at the microphone of the communications unit of the French Football Federation.
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