France took its revenge on Italy (3-1), cured its problems of inefficiency with a double from Adrien Rabiot and even snatched first position in its group in the League of Nations, Sunday in Milan, for its last released in 2024.
The Blues settled a lot of scores in a more attractive evening than last Thursday's performance against Israel (0-0) in Saint-Denis. They gave back their piece to the Azzurriwho won 3-1 in Paris and destroyed the start of the 2024-2026 cycle prepared by Didier Deschamps. This prestigious victory with a largely overhauled team brought everything “oxygen” what the coach asked for.
This time, his team were realistic, scoring on three set pieces, including two headers by Rabiot for his 50th cap. After the goal from a corner (2nd), then a direct free kick from Lucas Digne awarded to Italian goalkeeper Gugliemo Vicario, replacing Gianluigi Donnarumma (33rd), “the Duke” did it again, again served by Digne on a free kick (65th). There Squad reduced the gap by Andrea Cambiaso (35th) but received a lesson, as she had taught one at the Parc des Princes.
In the quarters, France will escape Germany, Spain and Portugal, also first in the group
As in the first leg, the French scored very quickly. Less than Bradley Barcola's 13 seconds in September, but after 2 minutes. Rabiot signed his fifth and sixth international goals, underlining the importance of a player who had missed previous gatherings. In September, he had no club; in October, he had only just joined Olympique de Marseille.
Digne, a decisive double passer, thought he had unlocked his counter, to also honor his 50th selection. His direct free kick headed for Vicario's top corner, but UEFA attributed the goal to Tottenham's own goal, with the ball hitting the bar and then his back.
The two “fifty-year-olds” obviously scored points in this match. Kouadio Emmanuel “Manu” Koné too, who performed very well in recovery for his 4th selection. The AS Roma midfielder poisoned the lives of the Italians from start to finish.
Christopher Nkunku, in a No. 10 role, sought varied solutions. He also pushed Vicario to make a difficult save on an attempt from distance (58th). In addition, the Chelsea player recovered balls in a style not unlike that of Antoine Griezmann, newly retired from the national team.
Maignan the savior
Mike Maignan saved first place, the AC Milan goalkeeper putting out a magical save in the very last seconds on a shot from Moise Kean (90th + 4).
However, everything was not perfect. Italy reacted very quickly to a ball lost by Jules Koundé and stolen by Federico Dimarco, who allowed the sharp lane player to serve Andrea Cambiaso two minutes after the second French goal. And Marcus Thuram was again disappointing, despite an optimal configuration: in his garden at San Siro with his favorite configuration, with two attackers, alongside Randal Kolo Muani. If he achieved a powerful breakthrough (64th), the Inter Milan center forward was still technically imprecise.
But the results are good, and the Blues will have a good end of year celebration after the criticism of recent months. They can calmly wait for the draw for the quarter-finals, which will take place on Friday. They will escape Germany, Spain and Portugal, also first in the group.
They even had the good taste to win on the evening of the 31st anniversary of the terrible November 17, 1993, the last minute defeat against Bulgaria which deprived France of the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
France
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