With a double header, Adrien Rabiot led this Sunday the reaction of a France that, with its best version in recent months, defeated Italy (1-3) at San Siro to reach the quarterfinals of this Nations League as first in the group.
Rabiot, who found the solution in Marseille to being a player without a team since June, returned in style to Italy, where he played for 5 seasons. He wore the ‘Juve’ shirt at that time, a great rival of the stage he conquered, a San Siro home of Inter and Milan that was silenced by the midfielder’s game, a giant with a double header that kept the Italians.
France reacted at San Siro against an Italy that had gone the last five games without losing, including one against this same French team at the Parc des Princes. It was a France much superior to that of recent months. Much better than that of the Euro Cup and, of course, much superior to the one that tied against Israel a few days ago.
Deschamps introduced, as he warned, several changes and things improved a lot. Digne at left back, Guendozi, Rabiot and Kone in midfield, Thuram up top with Kolo Mouani… and no sign of Camavinga, Kante or Theo Hernández. In the second half, the coach only made two changes.
The pressure in the first minutes at San Siro was suffocating. And in the 3rd minute it paid off. On a corner kick, Rabiot rose above Buongiorno to beat Vicario.
Italy, which could only lose by a goal difference to maintain the lead, exhausted its errors in that play. Spalletti’s men woke up and began to equalize forces with the Gauls, although without offensive success. France was very serious behind. And Italy was not able to prevail.
The problem for Italy was not that it couldn’t do damage. It was that France, in addition to playing a great game, was fortunate in a play that completely changed the game. Because Digne, in a direct free kick, put the ball on the same crossbar.
The wood repelled the ball, but ended up hitting Vicario’s back to make it 0-2. Italy was on the ropes at home, at San Siro. France was the leader.
Of course, the French joy did not last long. Just 2 minutes. How long it took Italy to take the center and mount the first attack. Dimarco stepped on the baseline, crossed to the far post and Cambiaso finished at will. From lane to lane. Italy was again first in the group.
The ‘Azzurra’ managed to neutralize the French inertia in the second half, but they also failed to prevail in an even duel. And in those, between comings and goings, in an isolated play, came the decisive goal, Rabiot’s double. It was almost a carbon copy of the first. Digne took a free kick that could have been a corner kick because of the proximity. And Rabiot emerged to finish and surpass Vicario. Again.
Italy went on the attack, but did not find a goal to alleviate the defeat and maintain the lead. Kean was the closest, but Maignan pulled out a providential hand. But the hero of the night award was reserved for someone else. Rabiot shone. And France took the lead.
— Technical sheet:
1 – Italy: Vicar; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiaso (Maldini, m.78), Frattesi (Raspadori, m.67), Locatelli (Rovella, m.67), Tonali, Dimarco (Udogie, m.83); Stretcher; Retegui (Kean, m.67).
3 – France: Maignan; Kounde (Pavard, m.82), Konate, Saliba, Digne; Guendouzi, Kone, Rabiot; Nkunu; Kolo Muani y Thuram (Barcola, m.78).
Goals: 0-1, m.3: Rabiot; 0-2, m.33: Substitute; 1-2, m.35: Cambiaso; 1-3, m.65.
Arbiter: Slavko Vincic (Eslovenia). Amonestó a Frattesi (m.31) on behalf of Italy; or Kolo Muani (m.44), Guendozi (m.93) by part of France.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the sixth day of the group stage of the Nations League, played at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium (San Siro) in Milan (north).
Match compact:
